I, too, started with stamps 'way back in 1956. By late-1958, I'd discovered that I couldn't keep up with the output of US stamps, much less world stamps. I still like US colonial issues, emergency issues, revenues, tax stamps, etc.
I buy commems to use on my postage and I insist on using stamps instead of the meter prints the Post Office has when I send a certified letter.
I prefer using engraved stamps; however, those seem to be few and far between now.
I'm still sitting on a sheet of 150 of the tiny Indian Head Cent stamp [13 cents each] from the mid-1970's [150 to the sheet].