Plan #2: safer bet?

Here's a different tack: I store an item in another account's inventory limbo. This account will NEVER launch TF2 and the item will remain in limbo until I can determine whether or not I can get it out without losing it. The trouble is that the person who currently holds the crate has it in their ACTUAL INVENTORY, not in their limbo, and limbo may be a more volatile state to put it into. But if I don't do something before the person launches TF2 themself, then the item will definitely be lost. A stressful day for SCIENCE!

I have a plan

Game-development-related posts will come later! Right now it's time for a scheme I have cooked up.

If you're not familiar with Team Fortress 2, this might not interest you. If the former is true and you're still interested, there's a wiki right here that can clear things up.

According to the TF2 wiki, Every series #22 crate, "Refreshing Summer Cooler," expired on 11 July, 2011 and was removed from player's backpacks.

But I know that there is at least one player who still has one.

I don't know if they're willing to entertain my plan, but I sincerely hope that they will, and not try to gouge me on a price when there's no guarantee that this will work. Here's the plan: I fear that if they should launch TF2, it will detect the item and delete it. IF I can contact them before they do that, we might be able to trade it over Steam. According to the plan, I will have TF2 already open, so that it will not immediately disappear from MY inventory. If it does not get deleted immediately once I click on the "new items" notice, then I should be able to gift wrap it and store it in my inventory indefinitely in that state. All crates should be gift-wrappable...

There are numerous places where this could fail. If it works, I could be the only person on the entire planet to have a stable series #22 crate! The only other crate I'm missing is Series #6, the Festive Winter Crate, which had a similar expiration condition. My goal is to get one of every possible item. If I can get one that should be impossible... well! That alone is practically boastworthy. Not that I'm one to boast. Wish me luck!