Yes, collectors live in their own weird little world. With some small stuff like toys, the box is worth more than the contents. (re: Pawn Stars)
You can decide how you want to play the gun ownership game. You an be a nut job collector or a regular owner and shooter or both. You can play the class warfare card and insult those odd collector types or just do your own thing and be cool. I find it just too easy to throw a few stones in the collector direction, but; I know cool would be better. That goes for the old "safe queen" insult. I get it, hard to hold back when faced with different behavior.
The positive side of the "safe queens" is that can be some nice guns for future shooters. The old school quality is dying out fast. I shoot all my stuff, but: I take as best care of it as I can given the use.
I have thrown a lot of boxes away. I keep them now.