> There is no real financial value in the vast majority of stuff that Dave saved from the landfill

That's one person's opinion, not fact. So why not subject it to a reality test: Put it up for sale, publicly and widely-announced, and see what happens. If it makes any money at all, that indicates at least some financial value.

The other choice would be to release these artistic works in the marketplace; but if this couldn't recoup sufficient profit for the costs/work involved (a debatable topic: other outfits manage), then selling everything outright would at least earn back something.

Or are the royalty payments better than is generally being let on, worth just enough to keep the catalogue?

> It is the business man in me that sees the financial part as a deciding factor. Throwing good money after bad was never a wise philosophy.

How is selling the material throwing good money after bad?