You're preaching to the choir. My 8.5"x24" ruler (my favorite one) has a worn edge, so much that it is not straight anymore. I bought a new one. But I still use both. Why? I think it's because I'm stubborn, but I have no idea what I'm being stubborn about. I hate to change the rotary cutter blade unless I'm just starting a project, so the old one stays in there way too long. I don't change needles unless one breaks (and there I haven't seen any ill effects, at least yet, so I'm almost ready to defend that practice). However I don't use old seam rippers, mainly because I either break or lose them and so not many get to be old. Do I get points for that?