@David Faulkner  some may act that way I know many truly wealthy and they were it well.. multiple homes multiple ferraris .. jets ... all sorts of trappings of wealth.. can't paint a brush and say all mega rich run around like paupers.and not all rich are are drowing in debt.. one of my business partners who sold his garbage company to waste management for 65 million... owns every thing in cash... homes in Napa valley  Tahoe  big hunting ranches travels the world.. he does wear levi's and drive a Chevy tahoe.. but one look at wifes jewelry and you get the drift.Another of my business partner owns a few hundred unit apartment in PDX all paid for... 2 million dollar home in Honolulu .. member of Wailii  condo at Nauru tower that is vacant most the time I get to use it when I visit.. drives a Tesla I talked him into buying.. so just can't paint the picture of everyone who has a bunch of toys is drowning in debt that simply is not true.

My employer had a young guy bring in some jewelry to sell, which we bought. 

This as my attorney calls the "Rolex Rule", this is when the tenant claims they had thousands of dollars in jewelry in the property and you cleaned it out and did not have legal possession (not sure what that definition or process is in your area) and now they come after you for this amazing expensive jewelry that is now gone.

I put ads in Craigslist and other online sites stating cash for old jewelry, watches, etc.2.

I've seen someone (rightfully) try to retrieve Grandma's jewelry, favorite rocker, china service, etc.

My cell phone company, jewelry store credit account, etc....

The other is that the huge consumption of gold for jewelry in India, China and the Middle-East is growing rapidly as their economies grow.

No one has figured out how to sell art, jewelry and other unique products online. 

The problem with your interpretation  is that if a tenant mistakenly or otherwise left behind something of value e.g valuable jewelry, then the law as you state it would allow the landlord to claim it was abandoned and convert it to his own use.

One of my partners sold his garbage company for just under 100 million and he drives is old Chevy Tahoe.. but when I was in Istanbul on a trip with him he bought his wife jewelry that was more than the car we are talking about .another member had the largest court reporting business in SF and they sold for I think about 12 million.. he drove a 70s old beat up ford.. but had a AT the time 2 plus million dollar home and he owned a Mall up in Rockland..