[MattyC]

Bill,

The hobby is entirely what you make it, to you. It's about you and your collection, the pursuit of a card you have long wanted, finding that example that you know is The One, and sharing those cards and victories with fellow enthusiasts who appreciate them. It's about the joy the cards give you.

I believe it was Bob Marley who once said, "It's a foolish dog who barks at a flying bird." I take it to mean, don't make yourself upset over things far beyond your control.

Much of what you are talking about is The Registry Game and TPGs. We can choose to get upset about that-- about those actions others are taking-- or we can choose not to. Being upset in some cases is a simple choice. If some guy wants to pay 15k for a card that a grader has labeled "Number X," which many of us don't think is worthy of that grade, then hey, that's a guy and his money. And if his goal is to see his set rise in GPA over others, then that's a game some are playing. If people are happy, then cool.

If you put too much energy and focus on the TPG game, it can drive you nuts. It's like anything that gets SUBJECTIVELY graded or evaluated. It is not an exact science or math. For example, in college I once wrote a paper, handed it in, it got a C. I was LIVID. I just knew and believed the paper was much better. I later handed the SAME paper in to another teacher for another class, as the same novel was read for that other class. It got an A. I then realized the silly nature of subjectivity. One man's trash is another's treasure.

Take hit movies or TV shows, too. Also subjectively evaluated products. Seinfield and Sopranos for example were both rejected. The first buyers to hear those shows passed, essentially saying they were poor. Then other buyers heard the same pitch, but judged the product as gold.

I don't mind if many are out to profit on cards. They are often rare and desired by many and therefore valuable. People want to sell them and people want to buy them. If it turns you off that TPGs are so subjective, which in turn creates grey areas and opportunities for cards to bump, and in turn sell for exponentially higher prices to Registry guys, then one can collect raw, or embrace the best advice out there:

Buy the card and not the holder.

You grade the graders with your eyes and wallet. You pay what you want. If someone gets a lucky grade or a crappy grade, or if someone wants to pay big for a crappy 10, again it in no way influences your decisions and purchases-- which create your collection.

I think most savvy, experienced collectors do know that the smart buy is the undergraded card. That many deserving 10s can be found in 9 holders. But here's the salient point, for me: who needs a grader to tell them what they have? If I know my card in PSA 1, for example, is a better looking card than a "higher graded" 2 that is, say, OC with stains and creases, I don't need a grader to ever validate that or tell it to me.

The decisions and the power lie in your mind and your choices. What we let bother us, and what we simply choose to not let bother us.

Lastly, when it comes to scams, there are attempted scams everywhere. Look at insider trading on Wall Street, or pump and dumps. There's a shady element to almost anything that involves value. But the individual is always in charge of what they let bug them, and I for one simply refuse to let subjective grades or anything else affect the joy I get from collecting rare and beautiful pieces. It's just too much fun.

Anyways, hope those points help.