When I see pics like this...my mind always goes to ‘who cares?’ I know I’ve talked about this time and time again and it’s because I get a lot of potential ‘investors’ telling me that in order for my

When I see pics like this...my mind always goes to ‘who cares?’ I know I’ve talked about this time and time again and it’s because I get a lot of potential ‘investors’ telling me that in order for my business to make it to the next level I need to take ‘authentications’ seriously. And...I do. I get paid to do it. I do roughly 250-400 pairs a month for various customers (most who know nothing about shoes). But I think it’s a ridiculous proposition.  
 
I know the vast majority of ‘sneakerheads’ buy (or collect) with the primary goal of wearing their shoes - they don’t buy so much to ‘stock’ or ‘invest in’ (except for my dude @snkrinvestor)...which...I dunno...is kinda new to me. Back in the day we used to say ‘yeah I’m coppin two pairs - one to rock, one to stock’ and the goal was to keep the second pair on ice until the first pair was beat. So we stocked in order to continue to rock. But with dudes buying full size runs and buying with the primary goal of reselling - it moves the goalpost.  
 
I, myself, am much more of a wearer. There are definitely pairs that I find that I have to buy to stock - especially vintage pairs or pairs I know won’t hold up to much wear. I have about 30 or so pairs I’ll never wear that I bought with the sole purpose of preservation. And maybe someday down the line - I’ll sell ‘em. So my collection is like 90/10. Of the shoes I cop - I rock 90%, I stock 10%.  
 
When I see the miniscule differences between real and fakes today - with the fakes sometimes showing HIGHER quality than the real - I’m always thinking…why would anyone put up with the madness of finding a shittier real pair for 10x retail when they can get higher quality fakes at retail? If your primary goal is to wear (which is what just about everyone claims), what is the justification…? Is it brand loyalty?  
 
I know I make this argument all the time and it’s easy for me to make because I rock Waffle Racers and NMDs and P6000’s and other thrift store comeups...but for anyone who has trouble with the concept - why? No judgement here. It’s an honest question and I’d love to hear why.