What's Your Opinion On This Subject?

I went through the same thing a few years ago. You have been given very sound advice, you would be wise to follow it.

I also think that the sound of cracking and popping plastic is very therapeutic. Also remember that when you pop you can't stop!

Your LCS is 100% right, especially the 80's -90's, and 00's. Especially if you plan on others. Then sell what you dont use as individuals or year sets. That way its cheaper for you and may recoup some expense. Me for instance, I only go for cents and halves, the rest I unload through auction consignments, any monies made there sometimes swapped for goods bid on...kinda feels like something for nothing, already paid for the scarfed proofs, this is gravy!

ebay the cracked coins you don't need, and recover some of your costs.

It likely won't happen in my lifetime, but at some point in the future there will be those folks who will be most unhappy with this period of set cracking.

LOTS of folks do that here. I think you'll be happy you did.

I USED to do that but no longer. The reason is I no longer want Quarters or Halves or those baby sized dollars. Therefore I just buy the Pennies, Nickels and Dimes at coin shows. I stopped buying Proof sets from the Mint when they started adding in piles of coins I didn't want and had no place to get rid of them. I don't use ebay and trying to sell the extras anywhere else just doesn't work. Might be a bit more expensive but in the long run, no coins I don't need.

What I am doing is actually a "dual approach"..
I try to get a good deal on two sets of the proofs.
For example, I have a full set of " Presidential dollar proofs" and " State Quarter proofs" in their proof cases. I store them in those nice "Eagle Proof Albums", and store the boxes and COAs away in my attic so that I have them if I ever want to be able to sell them as a "full proof set".
Then, I purchase another set of proofs that I crack-open and put in my actual albums. It seems to be cheaper this way then buying the proofs individually.. And for the set I crack-open, I don't care if it comes with the box or COA, since I am destroying it.

Only issue is that sometimes the proofs in the cases aren't "great".. You can get better quality if you go to shows/stores and "pick/choose" proofs that you like.. But that definitely is more expensive and takes a lot longer. Rather spend my time at the focus focusing on the harder to find and more expensive coins..

Michael