Very interesting subject... I didn't fully read every comment but I thought I'd just share my opinion on this :
When I was a beginner, well in my first year of calligraphy, I seriously thought that the nib was a big part of the quality of the penmanship. And it was true to some extent : I just had to find the right kind of nib for me... the one nib that gave me satisfactory lines (turned out to be the EF Principal). I also didn't see them as disposable tools (which I now do).
Then, getting more experienced (and having tried a good number of different nibs), I just understood that I just needed trusty nibs. My penmanship has evolved and I feel comfortable with any nib even if they give different kind of results, so I choose to buy the kind of nibs that give the result I want (and for a reasonable price).
Vintage nibs are very tempting, but I am less tempted now than I was a year ago... I know they won't magically improve my penmanship abilities. I only buy some of them
because they are much cheaper than the modern nibs (I'm in Belgium so I easily have access to the french vintage nibs the 2552 being one of my favorites).
For me the "dream points" are like museum objects : I could try them out but I would never have enough money to buy a box or two - and that would be extremely frustrating... (yes I only buy boxes
) And I don't see the point in paying so much for such tools.
So to answer Chris's question, I'd say you just do whatever feels right for you. If you just want to share with worthy penmen, then select each one carfefully. But please be open to people outside the US too (because we will never get to see these dream nibs otherwise
)
If you want to earn money from this, then feel free to sell them at the crazy market prices. But know that you'll probably sell most of the nibs to wealthy beginners who believe they are magic.