When I buy a LEGO set, I always have the debate with myself on whether to put them into parts, or keep it in tact. With large sets, like the Destiny's Bounty, I keep those parts separate. They don't do much good for me while I'm filming, but since they set is so large and cost so much, I don't think I want to break it apart. For smaller sets, I always break them up. That is, after I build them once. I like to see the building techniques that the LEGO designers used so i can learn from them and be better when making my own sets. It all depends, though.
Like Nathan Wells said, LEGO sets are not really good for stop-motion, but if you like the design of a set, for example a car, then you can modify it to suit your needs. Add new bricks, swap some bricks, make it modular, etc.
If the set is nostalgic, (like my 1997 Shell Racecar), I don't recommend breaking it into pieces. You should have one nostalgic set that gives you inspiration that always reminds you of how you were a kid and what LEGO means to you (or at least, that's the way I feel about it. )
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