Different strokes for different folks! I look on stamp collecting as an anti-social obsessive (and selfish) passtime. I mean stamps- buy 'em, stick em on a letter and kiss 'em goodbye! What is the fascination? But if people enjoy it, that's their business, and it keeps them off the streets troublemaking, so buy a big album and fill yer boots. But if they cause no problem, great- it really worries me not a bit and I have never sounded off about it before. I don't understand it. I do understand keeping train and aeroplane numbers. They don't cause trouble- let them enjoy!
I had a daughter that used to collect Strawberry Shortcake dolls. Other kids collect Cabbage Patch kids, My Little Pony crap paraphernalia and more. It's their business! As long as they don't mug old ladies to indulge their hobby, let them jump in with both feet without others making rude comments to spoil it for them! After all, we are internet obsessives taking it out on Pprune- how would we feel if they criticised us? So why don't we just let everybody indulge their hobby without trying to put them on some guilt/apology trip?