I never really started collecting anything until Hasbro released their POTF2 line back in 1995. I was working retail and a few of my co-workers collected these early on and knew I liked Star Wars. One day, they asked if I wanted to go on a "toy-run." Having alot of things to do and toy collecting not my thing...I thanked them for offering but refused to work on a high school senior project instead.
In the spring of the following year, the same group of guys were in my "Intro To Business" class in college. Now there was a big break between classes and home was kinda far. I got offered to join them on their toy run and figured "why not?" We went to a bunch of different stores and there was a sense of excitement overing finding something new. After a few hours passed, we needed to get back to the school to finish classes for the evening. As I was exiting my friends car, they stopped me and threw a POTF2 Darth Vader in my direction. They joked that they all pitched in for the fig and now I was part of the crew. I was hooked and we did this every week until the semester ended. After that, I was hooked on collecting POTF2 Star Wars figs until Episode 1 came out. I stopped collecting for awhile before reestablishing my toy collecting habits by adding Muppets, Wrestling Figs, Movie Maniacs, Sportspicks, etc. to my collection.
Now, as I got older the toy collecting thing wore off again. I figured what was the point in collecting these figures other than boxing them up and their minty packages never to be seen until something else needed to be packed away. I set my priorities (graduated college, got a job, moved out on my own, got married, etc.) and got my head on straight. I collected Kubricks for a short time for space concerns.
Well, one day a few months ago, I stopped by a local comic store to check out what Kubricks had arrived. I noticed a huge display cabinet filled with various Sideshow treasures...PF Luke, PF Freddy, PF Grevious, etc. They had other Sideshow stuff boxed up along the walls and I told my wife that I'd love to buy these instead of Kubricks or any other toys. Imagine what they'd look like in a movie room.
She saw the price tag on the items and explained that while they are very expensive for her taste, she preferred me buying something like these as a hobby compared to toys. I got her blessing to start collecting these instead. Currently, I only own a Jaws Maquette and a PF Princess Leia (I do have a PF Obi Wan on his way). I'm much happier than I've been in awhile. I still see a few of my old toy collecting crew to this day. A few still collect...some don't, but they were all in awe of my current but small Sideshow collection whenever they come over to catch a game or watch a movie...