I think we ought to be thinking about things like this from time to time. "Buy local" is becoming "buy in giant warehouse size stores with national distribution networks." As smaller businesses disappear and what's considered a small business gets bigger and bigger.
I've had really good experiences with Amazon, but I try to buy elsewhere if I can. If a product is the same price in two places, then I think it's a good idea to spend your money in the place where an individual is more likely to benefit from your money, or employs locally, or is less likely to create a monopoly. You likely won't change the world, but you might keep someone fed or employed by taking a moment.
This. I go to antique and specialty shops for games why because I can find deals and people who know their stuff. Also rare older games, retro consoles and the like.
I got official monster hunter joycons for $50. Wizardry tales of the forsaken land (ps2) for $35, skyward sword, punch out, dead space extraction, twilight princess, trauma center, and a wii motion plus all for $70... (Wife has a wii console which I didn't so I am buying what I can find.)
Now my purchases are mostly 2nd hand here. But think of a all digital world this goes away. It's sad. They kill off a digital game it's gone for good. I have a few digital only games on ps3 that never got ported (cloud berry Kingdom, trash panic, last guy, Tokyo jungle etc..). If Sony kills downloads to ps3 those games won't be there. Yet I can still go buy suikoden 2 or any of my favorite ps1 games.
What we need is a merger of new games and old stuff with gaming merchandise and arcades. A new type of brick and mortar store. Maybe have pinball and gaming meeting tables along with pnp. I think a store that is customer minded could do great. Gamestop sort of tried this but they don't offer a hangout vibe. They don't have anytjing older than one gen before.
Botromline physical needs to be here. An all digital future is bleak. A game pass ridden throw it away gaming will bring on the race to the bottom. Quantity and loot boxes/micros over quality single player content. Just look at phone games to see our future if physical goes away.