When I first started quilting, I thought I had to subscribe to every magazine out there. So, I ended up with tons of mags which I just recently gave away. I also have probably 20+ hard back books. Now that I'm back into quilting, I sort of regret giving away all my magazines before I went through them and cut out some patterns I really really liked. Oh well, such is life. I have just subscribed to one magazine again, American Patchwork & Quilting. They had an offer of a free year with one year purchased, so I am getting 24 issues for $24. Not too bad a deal. And as far as plastic wrappings, I like to get my magazines wrapped so that they are not torn when I get them. I am a great respecter of books and magazines and don't like them to get damaged. Cannot stand to turn down a page corner in a book. (A little OCD I guess.) I think with these new mags, I will clip any articles or patterns I want, then pass them on.