In answer to the question of why it happened, I offer the modest proposal that our Universe is simply one of those things which happen from time to time.
What if people we consider collectors today were actually just dragons in disguise, building their hoards?
“I am a dragon. And this is my hoard.” “You… don’t look like a dragon.” “Well, hardly anyone does, these days. Times have changed, we have too. The scales and tails thing worked with the dinosaurs, but we learned quite quickly that… that wasn’t going to fly with you people.” “You were around all the way back to the dinosaurs ?” “Well, not like… me personally . How old do you think I am?” “… There’s no safe answer to that.” “No.” “So… when you say this is your hoard…?” “All dragons have them. Some stick to the old gold and jewels thing, but that’s so cliche these days. Most of us like our hoards to be a little bit more sophisticated than ‘shiny.’“ “Like what?” “I have known dragons to collect snowflakes from the first fall of the year over dozens of centuries. I know dragons that collect petals of flowers left on the graves of loved ones. Dragons that keep and care for soft toys and comfort items, left behind as children grow up. Dragons that guard happy memories and shards o...