The Scarcity Loop
For most collectors, the hobby begins with something simple. A pack at the card shop. A favorite player. A memory tied to a moment in sports history. But over time, something subtle can change. The hobby starts to feel less like collecting and more like chasing. Not because collectors suddenly lose discipline or intelligence, but because many modern systems are designed to tap into a powerful behavioral pattern. Author Michael Easter calls this pattern the Scarcity Loop. It’s a simple three-part cycle that has