Indeed, I also remember torn and otherwise worn out instructions from my childhood. Exactly what I want to avoid repeating.
Is a "showmap" similar to a clear plastic sleave?
File folders or binders seem like the easiest way to go, but I really like the idea of an entire filing cabinet for instructions. It'd be like a vault of sacred manuscripts
By the way, does anyone know if LEGO instructions really come in all different sizes (like it seems to me), or do they stick to a few select formats?