You are entitled to choose whichever course of action you wish, but here is my two-pennorth.
As yet, there is no, "disappearance", of the passaround box, the original one turned up with a very good reason which was a bereavement in the family of the then custodian of the box.
I would still give the current custodian the benefit of the doubt in the hope of its reappearance.
It's actually very hard to find an accurate non-accusatory phrase, but there has been neither sight nor sound of it for long enough
As for the new box, I believe that helping newcomers to wetshaving is more important than hoarding unwanted shaving stuff in my "den".
I actually share these honourable intentions having run 4 PIFs and contributed towards 2 Newbie Boxes over the last 2 years and applaud anybody else who does the same.
It is only the postage that will be of cost to me and I'm happy to bear that in order to allow the spirit that we hopefully share on here to infect others, after all, who doesn't remember when starting our journey, looking at the plethora of products available, with a look on our face not unlike that of your Nan looking at a Sky+ remote.
I would never condone the application of a deposit on my donation, as it is given freely, and without condition.
If a recipient decides to keep the whole box for himself, I would think no worse of him, he only has his conscience to answer to, and if he can square that circle, he is welcome to it
This I'm afraid is not how passarounds work. The clue is in the name. People generously do the same with rare and / or expensive razors. Are these up for grabs too?
A passaround is a loan, a PIF is a gift. Muddying the waters is not in anybody's interest.