Mono recordings

Actually, to answer another reviewers question about the sound quality, this box set is currently the only way to get the singles in mono. Consensus by collectors is that the mono sound is preferable for probably at least the first 13 of these 22 singles, possibly for many more. Therefore, a must for collectors.
Also, please note that the original singles were issued without picture sleeves, excepting Strawberry Field/Penny Lane, which looked very cool, and Let It Be/You Know My Name, which looked very similar to the Let It Be album. These picture sleeves are therefore from later reissue pressings of the singles, or specially constructed for the box set.

Truly a Guilty Pleasure

Sure, these songs are all available on CD elsewhere, but in this CD Singles Collection, you get the original release artwork from all 22 Beatle singles in one package. Purists may want to seek out the original boxed set on 45 RPM records, but this collection is a great way to get all of The Beatle "singles" and their matching picture covers on CD.
It is fasinating to flip through these discs and see the changes the Beatles went through from "Love Me Do" in 1962 to Let It Be" in 1970. I am a Beatle fan from "way back" and this collection is for me, a fun addition to the rest of the Beatles Albums and past masters on CD. A guilty pleasure. Sometimes it is just so nice to indulge.

is this a waste?

Why spend so much money on all the songs that are available elsewhere? Why buy so many discs with only two tracks on each disc? That's a waste of CD space. Also, they don't tell you if it's the same quality or same recording as the normal masters.