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