I don't find the hobby to be particularly 
competitive.  As any of the folks with whom I 
correspond regularly will attest, we all look out 
for each other's wishlist cels, and if somebody 
"calls dibs" on an auction or update item, the 
rest of us back off.  This isn't about cutthroat 
acquisition, it's about collecting, preserving, 
and appreciating these unique works of art... and 
about the friends you build in the process of 
doing so.

If it hadn't been for cel collecting, I never 
would have met Laura, or Josh, April, Jasmine, any 
one of a number of Jens and Jenns (*grin*), Kenna 
and Kea, Matt, Karen, Hyla, Emily... the list goes 
on.  These are friends that, even if this house 
were to burn down and take all my cels with it, 
I'd still have, still enjoy spending time with 
(virtual or no), and still have plenty in common 
with.

Yes, it feels damn good to finally find a wishlist 
cel after months or years of wanting it.  And I'm 
just as bummed as anyone else if I miss out on one 
(or two... or a dozen in a row... *grin*).  But in 
the end, that's just the nature of the game -- 
nobody, not even the deep-pockets collectors, can 
get every cel that they want -- often, it's all 
down to luck.

And then, hey, we have friends to commiserate 
with.  Friends who understand, because they've 
been through the same thing before, and will 
again, and can laugh about it together.  Friends 
that we may never have met otherwise.

And you know, that's one heck of a lot more 
valuable than any wishlist cel.

Just my 2-cents' worth.