[Heathkit] HW-99: to keep or to sell?

[W5VPU@aol.com]

Hello, guys.
       I need some "consultation" from those of you who have been collectors 
and keepers longer than I have. I am trying to decide if I want to keep or 
sell my HW-99. And this is not an impulsive thought to me. I've pondered it 
for about two years, trying to decide what all I want in my station. (I am 
also dithering over another rig which is not a Heathkit, so some of your 
comments here will be helpful there.)
       This is not, repeat, not, a backhanded "premarketing" come on. But I 
do value the collective wisdom of a larger pool of experience.       
       I have a HW-99 novice transceiver I acquired 6 years ago at a hamfest. 
Used it a couple of years to get myself back on the air (first licensed in 
1953, then like others, away a spell), get my code up, make qso's etc. Thus I 
have some six years of emotion tied up in it, even though not used that long.
       The HW-99 has been in the closet a spell, got it out, recapped the PS, 
got the audio and everything else going very very well again and was quite 
pleased with the results. It acquired as well as inherited a few scratches, 
so I've found some touchup paint that really matches and am sprucing up the 
old girl. Read several lengthy entries and reviiews of its wonders online  
       Now, I find myself trying to decide if I want to keep it for 
nostalgia, an "antique" on the bookshelf, a rememberance. Or if I want to 
pass it on to the next ham or ham to be, have the sense that someone else can 
get the good out of it for a while, and then I use the sale price to offset 
some of what I've already spent getting some more modern equipment. (Now have 
an almost new 100 watt and not-quite so new 50 watt mobile, all HF.)
       How do you decide when to sell an item?
       If I can't get much for it, I won't even consider it. But if in its 
scarcity it has a higher value, it seems worthwhile to turn the dollars over 
and get the rig into use. For me, if something is not in use, it seems a bit 
superfluous. And that is a conflict with me for I love to go through museums 
of all sorts, even antique markets just to notice and admire the yesterdays. 
I suppose that part of my thoughts include getting the rig to someone who 
would value it either for a "collection" to fill out, or for actual use on a 
daily basis.
       Is the HW-99 a real part of Heathkit's history in good measure? Or 
just one of those short-lived flukes(I understand it was manuractured as a 
kit only two years or so, and sold so high that it was never a moneymaker and 
thus discontinued) Edsel's along the way of radioland? 
       I consider my age and what my family will do with my radios when I no 
longer can make decisions for myself -- although in good health, who knows? 
Would my wife get stolen from if I decide to keep it and then hope she will 
gain from having had it a few years more? I see all sorts of rigs for sale on 
eBay by persons who have no value and say, "This was used by my father who 
recently passed away. He used it only for listening for about two years and 
has less then 10 hours transmission." For me that is a real downer. I'm glad 
the guy had it to use and admire, but he waited too long to really get joy 
out of his amateur radio status! 
       These are the questions I am dealing with. If anyone has any offer of 
thought, experience, feelings, values, I shall be most receptive to your 
comments.
Thanks and 73
Raymond         W5VPU