A few years ago, I started learning moths (in large part because iNat could often tell me what species I was seeing). I started out collecting the moths when I was using a light trap from work and trapping for work purposes, but I quickly decided I have no use for an insect collection and it was, in fact, a pain to pin and label all those moths. So, I stopped using the killing agent in the light trap. The only time I actually need a pinned specimen is if I catch a state-listed moth - and then it only takes one specimen every 25 years from a particular site to afford that site protection under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. (Yes, I have the necessary permit to collect state-listed moths.)
On the other hand, I have lots of house plants (almost certainly grown in nurseries) and garden plants (ditto), and while I could go on and on about how I’m providing pollinator habitat (and apparently deer, vole, caterpillar, and rabbit food, too), even the garden plants that are native to my state are usually the only ones of their species for a long distance around. Hmm…
I think collecting is a necessary part of scientific research, but just as ornithologists very rarely collect birds any more (and certainly birdwatchers don’t collect adult birds), I think butterfly, moth, and dragonfly watchers have mostly moved to taking photographs rather than specimens. And I think that’s a good thing.