I knew I was hooked when I bought my first recarded figure. I think it was the Red Carded R5-D4, and I remember being so stoked that I found it for "only" 10 or 15 bucks. I didn't even open my figures back then, so I had no idea how crappy the figure I had just bought for the 2nd time actually was.
However, I knew I was unhealthily hooked after I received my force flipping figures in the mail from Kebco, opened them up and realized how much I hated them. These are the worst toys in my collection, and yet I can't bring myself to throw them away.
I asked myself: "WHY did I buy these stupid things, why am I part of this one of every figure club getting toys I don't even like?" Even so, I still didn't quit that club for another 1 or 2 months after that.
Because of the wedding this year, I've almost completely stopped collecting. I didn't buy the preview figures. I didn't buy the ship. I look wistfully at these toys I shouldn't be buying.....and ask myself why I HAVE to have em.
The answer seems to be: "Because I'm hooked."