[bluetomcat]

The "conventional" Lego builds are meant to be a non-functional miniature of a real-world or a fictional object, with some playing features. This creation crosses this boundary because it tries to replicate a real-world object in its original scale, with its inner mechanisms, and yet it doesn't achieve the purpose of the original object. Seems somewhat wasteful, cynical and purposeless.

[cephalization]

Yeah but I get to build this typewriter... I derive value from the act of building and replicating the inner mechanisms of a typewriter that I could not build before. Isn't all entertainment somewhat 'wasteful' or 'purposeless' beyond enjoyment?

[bluetomcat]

I'm 35 and am a keen collector of 1:18 scale diecast model cars. The sense of enjoyment for me comes from seeing their intricate details exactly replicated, from putting models from a similar age/brand/model next to one another and comparing them, from knowing that they can endure a long time without degrading and I can pass them to my son.

I fail to understand the appeal of "adult non-toy" Lego sets like these, however. It's impossible to replicate real-world stuff at any serious level of detail (the smallest brick is far too large), as mechanical devices they are flimsy (no greasing, no bearings, clumsily-weighed movements), separate sets do not stand well next to one another due to different scales and wildly varying subject matters. I do know that it is fun to build a Technic race car with steering, suspension, differentials and pistons, but such model-like stuff doesn't bring much value, IMO.

[allturtles]

No, Legos don't and can't exactly replicate all the real world details of the things they model. It's no surprise that different hobbies have different pleasures. But surely you see that you have a niche hobby that to many (most?) people would superficially appear to not "bring much value"?

The joy of Lego is taking generic bricks and figuring out how to represent the thing you want to build out of them. With pre-designed kits like this, many people find pleasure in seeing how the designer figured out how to use piece X to represent object Y, or used a particular building technique to create a particular effect. e.g. the Lego Empire State Building uses the generic grille to great effect to render the windows of the building, and generic yellow tiles to make convincing little taxis, and some neat building tricks to create the setbacks in the tower without making it look 'lego-like' (with abrupt, brick-size shifts).

[antiterra]

I got a sense of enjoyment from diecast model cars because I could open up the doors and pretend they transformed into airplanes. I also hated them because any steering or suspension components were generally plastic and flimsy by toy standards. I didn’t see the appeal to these things you couldn’t really play with.

People like different things for different reasons. Guitar Hero is not the same as playing a guitar, and comparing the two with the expectation that they will offer the same rewards will lead to disappointment. But, some people like both.

[nindalf]

Only as wasteful, cynical and purposeless as my dinosaurs. I look at them and feel happy. That’s pretty much it. If I assembled this typewriter, I’d look at it and feel happy.