WakeRunCollapse many years back comes to mind. I started collecting long after he stopped, but I have watched his opening videos to get my journey going - so I wonder:
How will your collecting interests change after those you collect with, or who inspired you to collect, leave Pokémon?
If E4 collapsed I’d probably slow down and reconsider my hobby
I won’t stop collecting altogether, but I won’t ignore there’s a parasocial community collecting part that’s fun. If every collector I interact with suddenly was like nah I’m out, I’d take a hard look at what I was doing too
I inspired myself to collect and I’ve always collected alone.
Tbf, I inspired myself to collect pokemon cards again, so unless I die it’s pretty much not happening.
Testify!
Call me an NPC Mareep but I find that the enjoyment others express for their cards enhances the joy I get from my own collection, and also influences my own goals in a positive way. If everyone else stopped collecting it would obviously make everything on my goal list attainable, but at the same time I value the process of sharing my achievements and discussing the journey with the CoMmUniTee. Additionally, despite justified frustrations embedded within the modern Hahbee, I think the underlying competition between collectors (manifested through card prices and market scarcity) adds to the experience of achieving goals. Take all that away, and I would find the collection much less fulfilling.
Having collected alone for a long time and discovering different communities only a few years ago, I’d continue to collect, but maybe slow down a little bit.
It doesn’t affect me in a way that I would want to quit collecting.
There is a very recent instance but the explanation video was extremely cringe and that made it even easier for me to don’t be affected by it at all.
I actually started collecting again on my own in 2020/2021 during the whole COVID hype – kind of a ‘pandemic hobby kid’ thing – and I still mostly do it for myself.
The people I met through the hobby never really collected the same stuff I did, and they still don’t. So even if everyone suddenly stopped, it wouldn’t feel much different from how it was in the beginning.
We’d probably just need to find some new things to talk about.
And to be honest, if the influencers I used to watch back then stopped now… I’d probably even be thankful for it.
I will buy all their grails that they wouldn’t sell me before. 
Some of my good friends through E4 collect things that I dont at all keep track of.
If they left, I would probably acquire an item in their memory. Ideally something directly from their collection.
tragedy got me back, and only another tragedy would stop me this time. But I also acknowledge that there is a reason people are giving up and slowing down in spite of the current situation of increased interest, myself included. My thread on collecting explains goals I have given up and why. And soon I might be adding to it…
I think a question is, do the people who have inspired others feel one way or the other about how others would react to them leaving? I’ve scoured the forum and read threads from 10 or more years ago, and seen people that are not here(actively at least) anymore, and wonder if they moved on or not.
As long as Pokemon itself exists I will continue to collect. To be honest…these days Im at more of a deficit collecting with MORE specific people in the hobby than I would vice versa. I do love seeing the passion in the hobby though.
Nothing would change at all.
Came back because of the art. If that goes to crap, I’ll leave. Other than that staying until I don’t want to. Making a few friends in the hobby has been nice but it wouldn’t effect me if they stopped
Collecting is a personal thing for me, and I enjoy doing it alone. I collected before I joined e4 and I will continue collecting if e4 were to stop existing.
If e4 friends do leave collecting, I hope that they would visit from time to time to say hi penpal style.
I enjoy collecting for myself. It is always better when I have a like minded individual to share my collecting journey with, or to enjoy the story of their journey. It’s not a requirement for me to appreciate my collection, even though I appreciate them and feel my experience is better with others . I will collect despite the comings and going, some going having more impact than others
The artists themselves inspired me to collect, so nothing would change.
Currently I want to collect but am not because the hobby is overrun with get rich quick clowns.
I collect for myself but am always sad when I stop seeing familiar profiles stop showing up. The hobby always loses when a dedicated collector drifts away or moves beyond pokemon. I hope other collectors can step up and continue bringing knowledge and history to the hobby.
Also, @Quuador, who inspired me to post on e4, isnt allowed to leave pokemon… ever.