..."I still remember when Topps was the only set of Baseball cards you could get each year. Then in 1981 Fleer and Donruss made sets as well so I had to collect 3 sets a year. Then in 1989 with Upper deck it started to go crazy. Special issues, numerous makers, too many issues to collect. I lost interest just like so many others did in the early 90's becasue there was just too much.

Very similar to what started happening with Commemorative chips. While LE's are great in bringing people into the hobby, when there are too many of them issued, people start to feel overwhelmed and give up on collecting. "

YEP! That is exactly the way I felt.

That in addition that dealers were over buying, couldn't keep with all the things coming out and had to slash prices at the end of the season so they could restock the next item. Thus, I would find myself seeing a box of cards that I paid $30 for, now selling for say $18, just so the dealer had some capital to buy the next thing that came out. I finally had enough some time in the early 90s.

Remember the first year of Baseball LEAF....packs were selling for crazy prices as well the sets?
Last I looked they were "worth" considerably less.