Thank you for sharing, Patrick.
For many years, I read MWF with a growing interest in watches. I never liked watches; I didn't even think I wanted to own a Rolex. The first watch I set my sights on was a PAM177, but after much browsing and reading, I ended up with a Tudor Pelagos. Why? Intrigued by Rolex and still wanting the Ti properties of PAM177. After time, I later managed to acquire the PAM as well as the Sub.
During those days, I also set sights on other watches of course, particularly falling hard for AP's Royal Oak (AP 15300 in blue dial). It was my grail -- I watched as prices went from sub-30k to sub-50k, to sub-70k and now passing the 100k mark. It has reached unobtanium status. Sadly, this has also been the case for many other "hot" brands (Rolex, AP, PP, etc). In fact, this madness has been overly aggressive in the last 3 years (I purchased by Hulk at a very slight premium, waiting 3 weeks for the watch to be available back in 2016). Nowadays, forget about buying a steel Rolex.
Unlike you, I still do wear my watches in rotation (as they are meant to be -- of course depending on situation) and I do enjoy reading up about watches. However, I would consider myself as having falled out of love as a whole with watches, as every Tom, Dick & Harry is trying to resell everything from a Speedmaster, Submariner, Royal Oak, Nautilus, etc. It feels as though people are just buying watches as investment pieces and bragging rights only, and for me... that sucks. I believe in the concept of SA building a relationship with the customer, and not the other way around. The ecosystem is messed up.
But it is what it is, this is reality, I am at peace and moving on.