Once we're definitely settled in somewhere, I'm planning on building up another book collection. I've always liked checking used book stores for whatever cool random old books I can find. It's a nice cheap way to build a pretty iconoclastic collection.

My only real complaint with Kindle and other e-readers is kids can't just pick up a book in the house and check it out.

Yes, it is a "collection" but not for collectors.

I don’t know about that. Books are the perfect item for that. Vintage physical media is going to become more important as the censors move in. Being able to exchange for sats would be one of the best ways for that market to work. IMO.

And it's hard to move your millions books between continents

I have to say they're mostly utility. I have many first editions (as most academic books only have one anyway), some books that the authors gave me. They're not signed, though.

I think this is because of what signing signifies. It's something an author does to honor a reader; it signifies the status of the author, as the signature s a sign of value, and with that, it also signifies the difference in that status between author and reader; it's something the author gives out. But I'm an author myself, I'm a colleague. (and of course in academia books, most readers are colleagues and students; most of our books aren't written for non-academics)

To sign a book for me could actually be construed as an insult, as it wouldn't treat me as a colleague, if that makes sense...