I started a new Minecraft world after a long time, the last time being shortly after the update that added the new cave biomes and changed world generation and I'm instantly reminded of how useless copper is. Can't make tools with it, can't light torches with it, can't use it as fuel, and it's all over the depths you'd typically find iron and coal, the two early ores that actually do those things 
haven't played MC in ages but that seems like exactly the kind of thing where I'd hoard it for weeks, and then eventually snap and build an entire tower out of copper blocks
back when I did play I also tended towards mods like thaumcraft, and they always have some kind of "garbage disposal" mechanism that extracts value out of literally anything. rendering down boatloads of useless ores into "metal essence" or whatever to fuel the enchanting machine.