Over 30 years ago I tossed a bike I neglected on top of a junk pile. I later somehow found one like it in worse shape on facebook marketplace but didn't pull the trigger on it. I regretted that as much as tossing the first bike. That makes two old bikes I didn't save.
A few months later I found one similar on craigslist that was in nearly mint condition and I paid over twice what it was worth just to have it. Now I search craigslist and facebook marketplace daily. I'm not looking to build a collection. But if I can keep something old from becoming scrap, maybe I'll feel better about the one I tossed on the pile.