It's all perspective. The latest news on the retiring sets was a positive sign to me. At least to me anyway, it indicated more of a "return to normalcy, " with some major exclusives finally retiring, with some surprises mixed in. I really do understand the frustration and negativity, though. With the Death Star debacle, possible remakes and other highly regarded sets still being produced after years, the old methods of buying and stockpiling every exclusive or unique set and waiting for profits is not as "guaranteed" as it once was.
Throw in the fact that knockoffs and counterfeits have been inserted into the mix and additional restrictions have been placed on some sellers, there are many reasons to be down on the market. Even I have not been buying as much as I used to. I just cannot keep up with all the new sets being produced annually and I just don't have the space to keep them. While I fear a declining market, I also fear that even though the market is in the doldrums lately, a few (or more) of these retiring sets will explode in growth and I didn't invest heavily in them.
In a way, the negativity around here will benefit those with patience and deep pockets and the fortitude to remain in the game. If more people get of of the LEGO reselling business, the more the ones who remain in it will prosper. The next several months will be good indicator of where this market is. A good Christmas season could change the outlook dramatically and attract more people into the mix and on the flip side, a bad one will only dampen the mood further and force more people out. Either way, it could be viewed differently. Good short term growth could be bad for long term investors and visa versa.
Everybody on these forums wants the market to be a strong one, but a "thinning of the herd" might be best for the overall long term viability of the LEGO secondary market. We also have to realize we are own worst enemy by extending retirement dates by stockpiling sets. LEGO retires sets quickly that don't sell and will extend production of sets indefinitely that do. Maybe a "down market" will force LEGO to retire more exclusives sooner than later. It should be a very interesting 2017...