I think some do and some don't . The fact is I have just parted out a Zeus competition that will hit Ebay soon...in pieces. The bike is not a show queen, and some of the unobtainium parts (wheels) were gone when I got it. If someone wanted to try to restore it, they could, but I would have to nearly give it away for one reason: Shipping. I might as well live on the moon. No one around here (physically, not virtually) wants the thing. It is probably worth $150-$200 as is, But are YOU going to spent $190 to ship a complete $150 dollar bike?? No. I can part it out for probably twice the "together" value and ship it in parts for probably $130-$145, and spread that shipping over multiple buyers. While some folks around here would be willing to take a completely disassemble bike back together to save $100 buck on shipping, but most e-bay people are not.

So. I can put the bike in the barn and forget it exists for the next 40 years. I can give it away (and I do this sometimes) for the cost of shipping. Or I can get some $$ to fund my other projects by selling the parts to people would actually need them to keep their own Zeus' running (this assumes that no one would by Alpha brakes unless they has a Zeus...I know I wouldn't). I would further point out that when I do this, that I stager the auctions and combine shipping should someone want to re-collect some or all of the bits to hang on the tree.

Now, if we move to more valuable bikes...say an original, good shape Raleigh International, my position begins to change. Bikes whose values (together) moving quickly north of $500 I tend to keep together, even if I could get a 30% premium on the parts and will take a bath on the shipping. I would also note that some bikes, e.g. an 1983 original Specialized Expedition, are worth far more complete than the sum of their parts.

Now...go buy Zeus stuff on Ebay.