>>Oh, sorry, that started turning into a rant.
>
>Indeed, although it's one with which I agree, for the most part. It
>is akin, though not identical, to the eternal
>drive-them-or-just-look-at-them debate over classic cars, or people
>who don't see why machines on exhibit in museum should be kept in
>working order. To memory-paraphrase Mark the gunsmith from C&Rsenal's
>Anvil series, "Somebody tell me when neglect becomes patina,
>God help us."

In a general sense, I prefer to see such things still being used, or failing that, maintained in such a way that they could, if needed, be put back into service.

For instance, I've modded old game consoles to get video signals more compatible with the display gear we now have (projector system with Framemeister external upscaler), and opened 35 year old sealed games to play them.

>
>Anyway, I've decided to have it professionally cleaned up and hot-salt
>blued; it's just a question of finding the right provider and making
>the arrangements. That decision may annoy whoever ends up having to
>liquidate my estate, but by that point I really won't give a shit. :)

And that, indeed, is the correct attitude to have.