is that Bathos? ....or Pathos!? ... no, Hubris!? That's the one!

[EDIT: Just finished reading the OP... From wikipedia Hubris: "a term used in modern English to indicate overweening pride, superciliousness, or arrogance, often resulting in fatal retribution or nemesis."

From OP: "An overgrown man-child and his precious collection can become a closed-loop co-dependency that functions as a moat"

I'm pretty sure that's a classic set up for Hubris? Well written piece methinks]