Hey Mike, nice to see another Michigan guy on the boards.  I have a dozen or so guitars here at the house.  The closest thing to an honest answer is that I wanted them, so I bought them.  I started out with a Les Paul, but then decided I really wanted a Strat as well.  Afterall, nothing sounds like a Strat.  Then I needed a Llocking trem guitar for a couple of songs so I picked up a mid 80s RG 550.  Then I had a LP go down the day of a show, so I bought another.  I realized then that I didn't have a flametop, so I bought a 59 historic RI LP.
 One day I decided that having a Tele was a good thing (same thinking as the Strat - nothing sounds like a Tele) so I bought one of those.  A couple of months later I bought a PRS CU 24 because all the other kids had one. 
Everyone needs an electric/acoustic and a bass so I bought those as well.   It really boils down to having a bad case of the gimmees and too much cash on hand, but I claim they all serve a purpose.  In all honesty I could sell everything but my 3 LPs, my bass and my acoustic and be perfectly happy and I'm in the process of selling off a couple of guitars now, but only because I got bit by the high end recording gear bug. 
For some, buying guitars/gear is an addiction.  I know I was a bit out of control there for awhile.