Loving the pictures. Was going to start a thread just like this before I found this one. I think it's funny how wear on something like a Strat, Tele or Les Paul is perfectly normal to see - desirable even; but on a PRS we expect to see them pristine. This is probably because we're just so used to seeing those other guitars in beaten up condition being played by famous musicians.
I want to see more pictures of PRSi looking a bit beaten up, of wear and tear from gigs - or just that dent from where you smacked it against the case that time and you're still kicking yourself now over. I want to normalise the wear, because I'm sure as heck going to ding mine (and already have done).
It's part of the reason that I'm so relaxed about buying second hand guitars (in fact I now don't have any guitars that I bought from new). Someone else has already had that opportunity to put the first dent in, so when I inevitably do it too I don't feel quite so bad. Don't get me wrong, I'm careful with them, I keep them well looked after and clean and well maintained, but I also want to play them.
when I bought my 53/10 ltd second hand it was already 4 years old, but it was immaculate. There were no marks or dings anywhere. The satin PF09 finish was still a uniform satin everywhere. It barely looked like it had been touched. Now 3.5 years later it has some very minor bumps and chips around the flanks, but the biggest signs of wear is the nitro satin finish, all the areas that I have contact with are a nice dull gloss. Now that it doesn't look pristine, I'm a lot more relaxed playing it! And it needs to be played rather than sit in the case as it's a fantastic instrument.