[freakhappy]

Value, looks, and protection. Those are the three main reasons I currently use grading companies. Another reason that was mentioned was for insurance purposes and if you would pass your cards onto your children that they would be able to sell them or find the value more easily and not get duped.

I've dropped my cards more than once and although it sucks when you damage a slab, I'd rather have a crack or chip to the slab versus a card that gets significantly damaged because it was only in a top loader and fell out. I actually had this happen to me once...I was taking my autographed postcards over to a friends house and I had them in a box. When I got out of my car, for some reason the box slipped and I dropped them on his driveway. I was pissed to say the least, but the only damage was to about ten slabs and it was minor chipping along the edges of the slabs. Sucked that the slabs had damage, but the cards were unscathed.

Although I prefer graded, I respect everyone's preference for whatever reason.