Posted By:
PaulT206 Collector,
I think you're making the same point as me. At this end of the scale, the grade gives you very little information. As you said, if the scan looks good, the grade tells you that there is only a subtle flaw that might not show up in the scan (or even in person with the card in the holder).
I still think the grading companies could do a much better job of informing the public of the condition of a card at the lower grades. For example, they could break the lower grades down into more increments, as they have done for the higher grades. At the higher grades, if I breathe on a 9 it becomes an 8. But at the lower grades, if I fold in half a card that has a 1 mm square bit of back damage, it starts as a 2 and remains a 2. A few extra grades at the lower end would help avoid this silliness. Another alternative would be sub-grades. This has been tried before and I'm not sure why it didn't go over well.