I thought the same and bought a few older systems. Now they gather dust on a shelf, because I got bored of them after a few hours. But at least the feeling of need is gone, I guess?

These days I regret not throwing things away sooner. Most long term possessions are just clutter.

I kept all my old consoles and even picked up some new ones and spares at Goodwill over the years. I consider myself a retro gaming enthusiast.

They mostly sit in storage. Very occasionally I'll take them out to play & stream something. Given the state of emulation these days it is difficult to justify keeping them.

Typically, I’d agree. Then, when I hook up my Dreamcast, the physical parts are great. The controller, disks, and of course the sounds of DC. With my Atari 2600, the physical feel and sounds of the cartridges. Emulation is great for playing a game but there’s a magic to the hardware too.