I can respect both classes of collectors. Linen backed stuff is easy to handle and easier to display. I display pretty much everything I buy, so an older more brittle folded poster doesn’t appeal as much to my type of collecting. However, I have a ton of respect for the people that want everything as original as possible. I think there is something super cool and moving about an artifact in its original state, with all the history showing.
To me, it's also a space issue.
First, I like to know what kind of damages my poster has, and unless it was in perfect condition before linenbacking, I simply don't trust it. I don't like holes, tears and missing pieces on my folded posters, I want them as close to mint as possible, so I certainly do not want any issues addressed and hiden by linenbacking.
Beyond that, space is essential. I own about 18,000 posters at this point and if 1% of my collection was linenbacked, I wouldn't know where to put it. Folded, I have no problems. They go in flat files and I forget about them. I own 74 linenbacked posters, US, French and Italian. If I own them, it is because I know I cannot find them folded in the condition I like. 74 seems like nothing to most, but it takes a lot of room in tubes, especially French and Italian. So I must stick to folded.
T