Over time it got beat up and torn and eventually pitched. If I knew then what I know now I never would have taken it out of the plastic.

Oh man, now I've gone and depressed myself. :P

That's exactly how I feel about all of my original game boxes. I literally have none left. Either lost or thrown away due to damage. Sucks. Especially when you consider that those boxes were usually full of cool extras and the game manuals back in the day were a joy to read. I still have the original National Enquirer newspaper that came with Zak McKracken though, and I believe I have the Grail Diary that came with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade somewhere where it can eventually be found. :p