I have several scratches on my car and it doesn't really bother me. Of course, it's an older car. I imagine I'd be much more upset if it were newer. :)
Why do some people make a big deal out of tiny scratches and dents in cars? I could understand if it was something that rendered it partly inoperable or dangerous to operate like a broken headlamp or door but a tiny scratch or dent?
My gifted :) car is 16.5 yrs old and worth about $50 (probably scrap), has a broken-off driver side rearview mirror, broken driver's headlight, broken radio, broken clock, dents and scratches, broken thingamajigs that hold up the hood (I have to let it rest on my head when putting fluids in the car), broken passenger's side window won't roll down and there're a leak, gets a little wet.
I love my CAR 🚘. It's legal and it's a tremendous blessing. I love my 🚘.
Because cars are not cheap. When you spend $30k on something, you want it to look to look good and for people to respect your property. And those little dents and scratches cost money to fix.
It spoils the look of the car, and dents and scratches devalue the price of the car.
To me, a car is an instrument---a means of transportation. So keeping it mechanically sound is my primary objective.
But to some, a car is also (or even primarily) an object of beauty. So to them, maintaining its original "looks" is equally important to them.
Nothing wrong with either perspective.
(De gustibus non est disputandum.)