quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
About 15 years ago (?) I bought my son the Lego Mindstorm Robotics kit. You could actually download programs into the robot you built. Quite the setup. I think that cost $300 at the time. My wife wasn't too happy with me but came around when she could see him building and programming robots. He's now a software engineer and part time DBA.

Yes, I have one of the 1998-1999 version in storage with the dozens of other sets. Was quite advanced for its time. Even had sensors for different inputs to control. Fun times.

I never got into that stuff but I know some people who are grown men and still collect it. As a matter of fact, I am sure he will buy this.

$1,000 for a pile of plastic bricks? For that kind of coin I’ll take another case of ammo and still have change left for a bourbon.

The vast majority of hobbies that people pursue in a very affluent country like ours provide no practical benefit in terms of our basic survival and prosperity.

I’m certainly not going to judge anyone for spending $1000 on something that can be enjoyed in the comfort of his home when I spend many, many times that much on activities that subject me to government scrutiny and approval, that can be pursued in only limited locations, and which very often are the source of as much frustration as satisfaction. Just yesterday I was asked why I had a riflescope that cost far more than other products that would have served as well for a fraction of the price. My answer? “Because I could.”

We’re very fortunate to live in a time and place where ordinary people can spend significant money on things that once were considered to be only children’s toys. That’s something to be thankful for, not judgmental about.

OLDER THREAD

As a kid/teen I built many plastic model cars, airplanes, ships, and military gear. Played with Legos too, but the best part of the latter was being able to fashion something the Lego folks would never have though of or approved (built a Lego outhouse once, had to paint some of the smaller bricks brown). When the "kits" started coming out with specialized tiles, I felt it was like cheating and quickly lost interest. I moved on to model trains which quickly became too expensive.

Now I find myself regaining some interest in model building, although definitely not Legos. More likely a model of a car I own, or would like to own. Or maybe some of those wooden AK/1911/etc. models. I still haven't finished the Visible Wankel engine I started over 20 years ago because I broke one of the delicate parts and haven't figured out a way to mend it or mold/cast a new one. Maybe an excuse to buy a 3-D printer?

My niece and her boyfriend are big into Legos, but I doubt I'm going to shell out $1K for the Death Star as a gift. My nephew, her brother, has a 3-D printer and routinely prints out imitation Lego tiles to add to her "projects." Somehow, a perfectly built and colored Lego model sitting on the shelf does not have the charm and interest of an old-style plastic 58 Corvette, poorly assembled and inexpertly painted by a 14yo.

That kind of money can buy me a lot of powder and primers. That or something new to put in the safe.

My kid was into Lego. And my cats played Lego hockey. But not to the tune of 1K!

They just released this gem, too:

Lego USS Enterprise D

If it wasn't that much $$$, I'd grab it.

We have purchased about 12 Lego Holiday Village sets at least $100 each. We store them assembled in a big tote and drag them out at Christmas to make an uber cool Christmas Village on a 4’x4’ plywood sheet. Wife builds hills with scrap 2x6 scraps all covered with cotton batting. Lots of pieces that I assembled last fall.
Mike