I am with you. My gun are tools and/or toys, NOT investments. I despise the idea of safe queens and guns too valuable to shoot. I have no interest in owning a firearm that would fall into that category. All my guns get shot.
Imagine owning the only 1983 Corvette.
It was parked in a Corvette museum, the floor collapsed from a sinkhole that totaled 5 of 8 others, but it wasn't damaged. On the other hand, the first Shelby Cobra is sitting in it's museum with three coats of different colored paint, all chipped, with minor dents, worn upholstery (rotten leather and stuffing so bad the springs are exposed,) etc etc. The Shelby family will not restore it, and it's got some miles on it, full pedal to the metal.
This is a comparison of "best is the enemy of good." Some prefer the artificial glitz of a possession that has never done anything, others prefer the provenance and service of something that has performed it's job.
At least with a vehicle, there are no "unfired" ones - they all get started and put into gear for a few yards exiting the assembly line. Even that one of a kind defective model year example with two paint jobs Corvette. BTW, they destroyed the other 42., that year, it started pouring down rain and the last was saved by the guy crushing them not wanting his new boots soaked. The rental company came that night and took the crusher. The Vette was parked in the back lot. I'm reminded of the story of the Singer 1911's when I hear that, Army accepted just 500, and the other 20,000+ were not. At least those 500 Singers were issued and shot, proving they could work. The Vette is a museum piece, and actually an example of how government regulation made things difficult in that era, too.
Come to think of it, most guns get a round down the tube at the factory. Are we assuming the status of that virgin barrel?