Bob, to specifically answer your question about the AC $10. chips........
Yes, those left over ARE put into the dealer's racks, and anyone, collector
or not, could use them.
BUT, in order to use them, you'd need to first buy some of them from the dealer, and then you could bet them like any other chip.
The point I am making is that I doubt that the dealers are paying off winning bets with the $10. chips. Sure, I'm not in the casinos around the clock, and MAYBE there has been a dealer having paid a bet with them at one time or another, but I have my doubts of that happening.

I am one who is against the recent flurry of $10. and $20. (Milton Berle) limited
edition chips. I have purposely bought extras of those just so I'd have some to play on the tables. I may be all wet with this thinking, but I just feel that if more of us would buy and then PLAY those chips, the gaming personnel might begin to report to management that those $10 or $20 chips are a nuisance to the dealers, and in some way convince the casinos to return to only $5. LE's.
Don