I think it's a bit of a life-cycle! You can come into coin collecting by a number of ways...pulling from circulation, inheriting gramp's collection, or maybe you just love a bit of history and stumble into it by accident, as I did? Then what happens is, you may join a forum, buy a book, purchase a couple of coins via eBay, and generally pootle around a bit, making endless mistakes (but good to do so, as long as they're not pricey ones). Then you discover dealers and maybe fairs, where you expand and grow and, alongside, maybe make one or two better judged purchases on eBay? Eventually you'll have a couple of silly snatches at the auction houses until, finally, one day, you find yourself sat next to your old dealer and bidding for the same coins! That's not to say this journey is a short one, because it isn't, and it's not for everyone...some people prefer the security of a dealer's judgement, and will happily surf for the best deals amongst them, but not everyone. People will always need dealers however as they are in it 24/7 and will always be the first to hear of any surfacing rarities, or will at least know a man that has one...you're never close to this with an auction house. The whole journey is as varied as coins, and each travels a different but recognised path by us all, it wouldn't be so wonderful otherwise!