I remember being around for the BW era release in 2011 and I thought the hobby was dead for sure. I hated the new BW style of holos, and the art just felt SO uninspiring compared to the cool stuff in the late stage WOTC and ex era (just my personal opinion). I thought Pokemon was just going in a terrible direction and if they kept going in this uninspired direction, the hobby would die. Today, they just keep putting out amazing art set after set. I truly think if they keep putting out these amazing alt arts, art rares, SIRs, etc, the hobby can’t help but grow.
9 Likes
Interesting. How was it different for you?
1 Like
I believed in the business model, the service, et cetera. It’s just not for me, some of my views are scattered around E4 already so I’ll just leave it at that since there is no “right” answer. This debate can quickly turn to argument, not making any accusations or throwing shade but this is not the time or place.
One thing I haven’t said yet, on the other hand, would be that the phrase “the customer is always right” is taken out of context/misquoted on a daily basis. It’s worth reading the Wikipedia article as far as that saying goes, IMHO.
3 Likes
Good question.
For me I guess I just didn’t realise people could spend (outside true collection grails which in any hobby however niche would always carry a premium for being ‘the thing’) so much on cardboard - myself included!
Also - prices can’t keep going on like this? In the words of Mick McCarthy, it can…
5 Likes
1 Like
None.
I emerged from my poke egg practically perfectly in every way.
6 Likes
Not sure, I’ll let you know when I feel mature 
9 Likes
That there was a genuine community.
Now i know there are a handful of good people and the rest are c@ncer!!!
3 Likes
I used to like it. 
But through therapy, maturing, and being comfortable with my own opinions, I can no longer say that I do.
I still love Pokémon and I’ll emphasise this again, I still (and only) love E4 as a collector’s community, but part of “maturing” is also realising that it’s perfectly fine for you to step away from something that no longer serves.
And the hobby, and “greater community”, for me, is no longer serving anything.
6 Likes
When I was younger I married myself to print run numbers, but now we’re taking a break
3 Likes
Collect the cards you actually like and not the ones being shown on social media.
3 Likes
When I came back to the hobby in adulthood, I started with CZ but was also buying old things I missed or escaped me as a kid. 1st ed. Blaine’s Arcanine, sealed CoroCoro and vending sheets, a PSA 10 zard booster pack of base set, etc.
My biggest mistake has been finishing sets within a month or two of release. Certainly could have bided my time on that for a few cards until they fell out of the limelight.
With my collecting now, I’d rather spend $ on a true rarity than $ on an SWSH/SV PSA 10. I’ve never really been too crazy about Black Labels or low PSA pop counts either–but cards with low print runs or clearly measured distribution are my favorites in the hobby. It’s provenance, rarity, and Pokémon all tied into one. To me that’s interesting and worth collecting. There’s an incredible thread I recently found here with a spreadsheet that catalogues these low print cards and pairs it with distribution method and has sources noted as well.
3 Likes
I wouldn’t say I’ve fully matured as a collector yet — I think that process never really ends. But there are definitely opinions I had early on that have changed with time.
One big one is card language. When I started, I honestly thought language didn’t matter at all. A card was a card, and the artwork was everything. Over time, though, I’ve realized that language actually matters a lot — not just for value, but for demand, liquidity, and even nostalgia.
I still like cards in different languages (I usually buy Korean booster boxes, and when it comes to singles, sometimes Italian. That said, I still prefer English, Spanish or Japanese) , but now I understand why language can be a deciding factor rather than just a detail.
7 Likes
I remember not liking Komiya when I was a kid but his illustrations aged a lot better than the stock art of others in that era. Similarly, I thought some early PLANETA cards looked cool but now the CGI is so dated.
3 Likes
Wait until you reach the “thought i matured” stage as you round another corner.