For me, it's the the bricks & build that count, not the box or the instructions. The box is opened and then usually won't be touched again until I put it in the waste paper bin. If the instructions are crumpled, it doesn't really bother me, as long as they're stil readable. I do, however, get a bit miffed when a stickersheet is crumpled. I don't often use the stickers, but that just shouldn't happen.

That said, the booklet and box that come with for example the Back to the Future and the Architecture sets make it all just feel that more luxurious. But you do pay extra for that. I feel that with Lego you're first and foremost paying for the quality of the bricks themselves (and also a bit for the brand). The recent Movie sets do however have a more fancy box in terms of the finishing of the cardboard, while they're not really that more expensive than comparable City sets.

As for the big rock pieces: I knews they were in the box, but I share the feeling that the resulting "mountain" lacks a lot in reality-feel. The cottage will be used in my lay-out, the "mountain" won't, at least not as Lego intended it.

Edited April 10, 201410 yr by jfbat

Personally I find PDF instructions showing on a ipad work better for me. So maybe one day we don't have the printed booklets at all in the future?

For sure there are lots of instruction lovers out there - don't get me wrong, I love them too. But what I enjoy the most is with the bricks, not the instruction booklets.

I'm a book lover, can't help myself. I hate seeing books mistreated.

PDF only?! The Horror!

As a fellow book-lover, I have to agree with you.

Lego's PDF instructions also have terrible colour reproduction, making it hard to distinguish colours in some sets.

yeah I put up a Fender Stratocaster for sale this week to get some extra money for bricks.

and the HHouse is top of the list.

I really want the Town Hall too,..with the Coosoo Delorean from back to the future.

...they sure seem like they're meant to be together.

Ditto on the Haunted House. I got it as a gift to myself at Christmas, and it's amazing. I'll never take it apart, and I hope to buy a few more before it's retired. One for parts, at least one to save for resale.