Years ago I had a collection of great anime ranging from the 80s/90s to 2003-2004 era of US releases. Some were subbed, some dubbed (I'm of the mind that as long as I can reasonably enjoy it, sub or dub quality isn't an issue, sue me if you don't like it). I'd say it was roughly $2000 worth of DVDs and VHS that I watched regularly, but then financial times hit hard. Very fucking hard. I had to make the choice of selling them or some other things that meant a lot less and dammit I went with the anime because I was feeling like I basically had hit the end of my time with it. I regret that choice, even though I pretty well have sworn off anime at this point. I'd still love to have that whole collection back because of the sentimental value.
I usually don't put much stock in material stuff, but there's a few small things that I either have, have lost, have had stolen, or got rid of that I really really did not/do not want to part with. When I gave up MtG 10 years ago and gave away one of the most awesome (and frustrating to play against) mill decks I've ever made (along with a collection of cards ranging back to the Revised days)... well I regret that decision but at that time I was very very depressed and not in a right state of mind. While I regret that decision and some of the things that happened post-decision, the whole situation got me to accept help I desperately needed and get some things straightened out that really needed to be.
So my advice, if the collection means something to you, even if you feel you might have either outgrown anime or just don't have the time for it, I'd say keep it around. And just because anime is prolific online doesn't mean you'll always have access to it. You never know whats around the corner for you, if you're going to move to an area where internet sucks or you have a huge life change that puts you in a position to downgrade or even get rid of internet in your budget (which I've had to do multiple times). Having a physical collection of stuff is valuable in an age where things of that nature seem to be downsizing heavily.
I am of two minds on this, I feel that yes digital distribution is a good thing but it has to be tempered with a prolific internet availability in terms of speed and physical access (and a bit of loosening the grasp of draconian DRM). I'm not totally against companies protecting assets and such, but I also remember a very profound quote from Leia in A New Hope that works fairly well when paraphrased... I'm sure I don't need to mention it. Anyway... sorry for the digression.
TL;DR - Keep your collection, you never know exactly what will happen in your future and you might come to regret decisions made in haste.
I usually don't put much stock in material stuff, but there's a few small things that I either have, have lost, have had stolen, or got rid of that I really really did not/do not want to part with. When I gave up MtG 10 years ago and gave away one of the most awesome (and frustrating to play against) mill decks I've ever made (along with a collection of cards ranging back to the Revised days)... well I regret that decision but at that time I was very very depressed and not in a right state of mind. While I regret that decision and some of the things that happened post-decision, the whole situation got me to accept help I desperately needed and get some things straightened out that really needed to be.
So my advice, if the collection means something to you, even if you feel you might have either outgrown anime or just don't have the time for it, I'd say keep it around. And just because anime is prolific online doesn't mean you'll always have access to it. You never know whats around the corner for you, if you're going to move to an area where internet sucks or you have a huge life change that puts you in a position to downgrade or even get rid of internet in your budget (which I've had to do multiple times). Having a physical collection of stuff is valuable in an age where things of that nature seem to be downsizing heavily.
I am of two minds on this, I feel that yes digital distribution is a good thing but it has to be tempered with a prolific internet availability in terms of speed and physical access (and a bit of loosening the grasp of draconian DRM). I'm not totally against companies protecting assets and such, but I also remember a very profound quote from Leia in A New Hope that works fairly well when paraphrased... I'm sure I don't need to mention it. Anyway... sorry for the digression.
TL;DR - Keep your collection, you never know exactly what will happen in your future and you might come to regret decisions made in haste.
