Its cheesy, certainly, but Indy is always fighting to get something other than the artifacts. Marion, to save a village, to save his fathers life, getting a wife and son in the newest film.
The ark will always be the greatest artifact, imo. The movies make sure Indy loses f all these super-powered items by movies end. Of course, now that there?s a toyline, you can make your own alt-verse where Indy went back to that warehouse and took all that was rightfully his. LOL!