I just realized today this is my 10,000th post on E4. I figured it was time for a reflective thread.
10 years ago the hobby was a different atmosphere: small, intimate, sheltered; E4 was one of maybe a handful of platforms. Social media didn’t exist; youtubers weren’t much of a thing. This beauty was brand new, “scrolls out boys”:
Fast forward to today, the hobby is larger than anyone expected. E4 had maybe 1,000 views a month in 2010. Today, that number is 1,300,000! Pokemon today is in a much better place: more collectors, more cards, tons of information, something always happening. In 2010, the “new” LP promos only had 79 cards, where today, SM-P promos are over 400!
There are entire markets that have bellossomed, such as signatures, collecting specific artists, collecting graded cards outside of base set. Not to mention numerous countries and languages that print Pokemon cards, reaching entirely new parts of the globe.
Of course with growth comes challenges. Part of enjoying a hobby is adapting and not getting stuck in the weeds. 10 years ago there wasn’t as much noise, prices were pretty consistent. Today it’s the opposite; the market is larger than ever, and so is the noise. Therefore the new challenge is where to put your time and energy. Remember, while prices have increased, there are countless affordable cards, artwork, and paraphernalia to enjoy!
Lastly, and most importantly, we all enjoy the same hobby. Sometimes that universal value is blurred in our daily competition. Hopefully this brief reflection is a reminder that while the hobby is always in motion, that value remains constant, 10 years later.
