Why would anyone pay money for an NFT?

I've been hearing a lot about NFTs lately, but I'm still a bit confused. Could you explain to me in simple terms why someone would actually pay money for a non-fungible token? Is it just a fad, or is there some real value behind these digital assets? From what I understand, they're essentially unique digital files that can't be replicated, but what makes them so appealing that people are willing to shell out large amounts of money for them? Is it purely for collecting purposes, or are there other potential uses or benefits? I'd appreciate any clarity you could provide on this relatively new and intriguing concept.