My reasons are selfish and personal so therefore probably mirror those of
most un- and pseudo-scientific collectors:
 
        All of my shells are self-collected.  I, therefore, associate many of them
with great memories.  I can remember the when and where I found the Ph.
convoluta just as vividly as one or two of the Cyp. tigris.  I also use them
occasionally for teaching in local schools.  And there's no denying I have a
very pretty "trophy" shelf.
 
        Hope?  Nah, not really.  I think the little buggers have sufficiently
advanced my knowledge and that of many others.  They have, in their death,
served humanity (albeit a small portion thereof) more than the ones that got
away!
 
        But, I think I will keep the little slips of paper even though they contain
sparse scientific data.  No telling how long my memory will holdout!
 
Charles