I didn't say graded cards don't have value in the grading of them, but just because the card is in a plastic slab does not change the inherent value of the piece of card board. It is still the same card, and yes people do pay more for the card in plastic, but the amount they are willing to pay above the value of the card is what they are willing to pay for the piece of mind for the plastic holder.
New/Novice collectors are what really make the whole TPG model work for low dollar cards, because they are willing to pay more for piece of mind than an experienced collector will, and that slab gives them that piece of mind. An experienced collector will look at a $ 200.00 T-206 raw card and know what to look for to see if a card has been trimmed or altered, and grade the card for themselves. A novice collect is a lot less apt to buy the same raw card, but instead opt for an TPG graded example over the raw example, thus placing more value on the plastic.
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