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steve yawitz...but I think the protection angle is overstated. I can't recall really mangling a card since the time in maybe '87 or so when I accidentally kneeled on an '85 Fleer Eric Davis rookie. Not saying it hasn't happened since that fateful day when I wrecked my big card show acquisition, but I'd be willing to bet that PSA has inflicted at least as much wear on my cards as I have in the six years that I've been submitting.
The value question is admittedly trickier for me. The nice thing about collecting PSA 1-4 prewar stuff - with the occasional splurging on a 5 - is that I feel most of the "value" is a function of the cardboard itself and not the plastic and label. If I had cracked out my '53 Parkhurst set before selling it, I would've taken a bath; If I were to crack out my modest T206 collection before selling it, I'm guessing that the realized prices would only be slightly lower than what they would be if I were to sell them graded - say the cost of the grading give or take a few bucks.
On my PSA 5's and on some of my E cards the disparity would probably be more, so if I do join Mr. Wakefield in the Slab Liberation Army, I might first sell those cards. I dunno yet. I feel like I'm at a crossroads of sorts and am still trying to figure out what makes the most sense.