ZX-81s/TS-1000s were like cockroaches for a while, crawling out of the woodwork when you least expected it. Sometime around 1990 a friend of the family was given a box of three of them (two of one and one of the other models, I *think* the TS-1000s outnumbered the ZX-81s) because someone they knew heard "Oh, you don't have a computer at home? But your kid (then about five) needs to learn computers!" and thought they were helping by donating them. I was asked for help to set up their "new" computer, and upon seeing what they were given I volunteered to trade them an IBM XT I got at the government surplus depot for... what was it, $15? for the lot. No kid deserves to have a Timex Sinclair inflicted on them.

In addition to being a good source of Z-80s they did indeed make excellent doorstops.