I have to take the middle ground on what you said. Private collectors do indeed cause a number of things to be preserved, but in the case of (for example) large, inscribed stones, often the artifacts are found by the looters / pothunters in great condition, but are shattered in order to move them. In some cases, they're busted up because the gang of thugs couldn't agree on how to split the money,. Yes, lets rush to the worst case example shall we?
Getty does not smash things to raise the value. Governments have engaged in smashing things on more than one occasion.