> might be worth it for the more expensive stuff but imo trying to reuse
> components that have already had most of the length of thier legs cut
> off and need to be identified and sorted before use is probablly more
> trouble than its worth for things like small resistors and capacitors.

Some lead lengths, particularly electros, are rather longer than I'd have
left them. Some aren't of course, but if you don't want those, you just
don't de-solder them, but they are re-useable nonetheless. As for sorting,
you'd probably have to do that with a grab-bag anyway. But I take your
point. Now that my parts bags are full enough with general components
I do tend to go for the more exotic. But the partially de-soldered boards
are still here if I need them. I just got a couple of PCBs from a place
down the road - one has about 30 miniature 5V relays, with an LED
for each, the other is covered in LM350s and LM317s. All would
have been landfill by now. They're not necessarily expensive, just the
sort of thing I'd have to go out for or order from RS

I don't consider recycling other peoples' products as "slumming it".
Same as I wouldn't throw my own components away just because
I've already used them in another circuit. I buy new for production
of course, pre-loved parts are mostly just for bread-boarding and
one-offs

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