After living in New York for decades, I get that a lot of people sort of have their “thing”. Some people are into tech and have to have the latest phone or watch or whatever. Some people are into haute cotoure. Others into alternative fashion like sports caps with those stickers or high-priced kicks. I don’t judge.
Everyone has their thing that they’re into. It makes sense to them but seems completely bonkers to “normies”. Whatever. Let people be happy with their thing as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else. Collectible sneakers is pretty harmless and, tbh, really interesting.