Oh man... If I had not kept myself occupied during my vaping switch (including all my oral surgeries without opiates) I am CERTAIN I would have started smoking again. I don't regret a single one of my exploratory (and sometimes slightly hazy) purchases.... Many of which I gave away to new folks who wanted equipment that was totally unsuitable for my style of vaping.... I KNOW I would have smoked again. ECF was LITERALLY a lifesaver for me, in fact that's why I included it in the manifesto....

UNCONTROLLED Shinyitis is better than smoking, even if it's MORE in the beginning (although I doubt it was).
I don't regret a single purchase, but I have reached a state of contentment with my vape equipment that keeps me happier. Even if I will be filling my "piggy bank" for a LONG time to come, making those early purchases kept me focused on vaping and learning new things NOT smoking. I even learned how to vape nasally...

IMO Shinyitis in the beginning can have some advantages, absolutely.
Anna