If you play by the rules, the game is not half bad

Yeah but it is mostly bought out of nostalgia. How many people do you know actually like Monopoly as an adult. Sure people will still play it, but more likely they will complain about it before and after. It is a strange relationship the world has with Monopoly.

You know danm well ypur friends will hold all the good stuff

That is the trick though, you give them good stuff and you settle for less. They may never finish their Yellow Monopoly but I will be raking in the bucks in the light blue. Also if you don't allow your friends to short you even $1, they will be mortgaging their property before you know it.