I don't very often, with a few exceptions, buy games on release day. There are certain games that I still get on board the hype train and feel the need to have day one and play as soon as I get home. That seems to have died off a little lately but when Mario Kart 8, Smash Bros, Mirrors Edge, and Final Fantasy 15 release I'll probably get them day one.
For me I tend to only buy one or two games a year on release day. In between those I'll use some birthday money or Christmas money to stock up on the titles released that year at around $20 a game.
The drawback to this approach is that I miss out on the water cooler moments where you share moments and discoveries with friends who are playing through the games at the same time. You also miss out on the bigger populations on servers for multiplayer games.
Mostly this happened because I have other things filling my time. As a husband and father there is a lot of work involved with keeping the family and home going. I also work full time, and make games on the side. (Shameless plug here: http://postmita.blogspot.com/) That tends to leave me less time to game than I used to have.
Thinking back on my life though, I can't remember release dates being that important or me buying many games on release until the PS2 era when I had my first job. Super Mario 64 is about the only game I remember getting day one.
Was anyone else the same way? Did release dates not bring the biggest sales during the NES, SNES/Genesis, and PS1 eras like they do now?