[LordBodak]

The limitation on housing is the key to the game's structure. Most people don't seem to play it this way (letting players build hotels if they have the money, regardless of the number of actual plastic houses remaining), and it screws the game up. Not to mention house rules like "free parking" artificially adding money to the game.

[ars]

I think they play it that way because the houses always get lost, so you never know how many there really are supposed to be. So you use stand-in pieces, with no limit.

[LordBodak]

Well, every set I've ever had came with extras, and the number you're supposed to use is printed right there in the instructions.

[ars]

Assuming you didn't loose the instructions too......

[LordBodak]

If you lose the instructions then the odds are there are many other rules you're not following.

[bengarvey]

Monopoly's instructions are printed on cardboard and are part of the box. Hard to lose unless you are loose with that sort of thing.

[ars]

Not in mine. Mine came on a tiny booklet.