I recently switched from coins to cardboard after not touching baseball cards for 15 years or so. Grading is essential in the coin hobby because counterfeiting and alterations are prevalent. Certain coins like a bust dollar will have 10 fakes for every real one. Old baseball cards are also easy enough to fake.
At least out here in Utah, there really is no way to build a quality prewar collection without buying on-line - and that makes the slab a necessity. You can't hold the card in your hand, and difficult to judge just from a photo. If you really don't like it, buy the card and remove from the holder.
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