[tbob]

I used to be a "raw card only, I hate the slabs" guy years ago but now I have an equal number of cards graded as ungraded. I love having the sets like T205, T206, T207, T212s etc. ungraded, raw in pages, all together. On the other hand, all my caramel cards and M cards are slabbed for several reasons: I wanted them protected, they are easier to re-sell when I pass on and my family inherits them, plus I like the way they look, especially in SGC holders. I likewise have all my T210s graded and slabbed, mostly in SGC holders for eye appeal.
As far as registry sets go, several of my sets of slabbed cards are in all 3 holders- SGC, PSA, and GAI, so they will never make it to #1 without massive cross-grading. That's fine. I do not employ the registry sets as a compulsive drive for the best set, I use them to help identify and prove value in case my cards are ever stolen. It's something we should all think about.