Gamer first and foremost, and I don't classify types of gamer, as people would claim that trying to win means you aren't a narrative gamer and vice versa. I like scenarios, but I also like balanced matches for pick-up games.
If a game grabs my interest, the models will be fine. I haven't seen any models that are too horrible to use. I do enjoy painting and modeling, and then showing off my work on the table. A painted army, especially a unique one, is one of the things I enjoy seeing most, and it enhances the gaming experience.
I am not a collector at all. If it's not something I'll put on the table to use in a game, I don't see a reason to have it. The figures I use for playing the games look good enough on a shelf between games. (This same mentality applies to other hobbies. My dad enjoyed collecting nice looking 1/32 slot cars, but I insisted on not having any that weren't used for racing, with a lone exception that was extremely rare that fell into my lap. Similarly, I "collect" mugs and drinking glasses, but don't have a single one in my apartment that I haven't used at least once, and likely more than once.)
If I'm not playing a game, I won't get the figures to paint (and certainly not to collect). If I wanted to model, I could find much better options out there. But I do my painting and modeling to enhance my game experience.