Have you ever considered that the "millennial minimalist" or "anti-consumption" mentality can quickly slide into virtue signaling?

New media requires new merchandising. Purchasing licensed merchandise is the most direct way to support any cultural endeavor that you support (think Rick & Morty and podcasts). And it is arguably the most ethical way to make money off your audience - you can't sell anything other than toys to a child - and do we need anymore snake oil (sorry, supplements) being sold to us. Although selling merchandising direct to audience probably never closes the gap of financing required to produce new work, it at least has a double property of acting as advertising.

In terms of like, old shit, I think people can sometimes get a little bug feeling closer to history. It's a little grounding in a way. Purchasing something solely for the expectation of it to accrue in value, that sounds pretty stupid.