Ngl, that's a rough scene. Do you think he genuinely believes there's still a market, or is it just a sunk cost thing where he can't admit he's stuck with a box of junk?

Welding spool worked for me, @jake747 is right about the hose reel idea.

Intentional decor" is the perfect way to put it. You just have to surrender and call it a feature, not a bug, because that stuff migrates forever. I'm pretty sure my last apartment still has some of that glitter in the air.