Posted By:
JoannJim and Barry: I'm not 100% sure on this, but I think there is no such thing as a "quick game of chess". lolol.
And for Jim (and maybe Bruce): A question of genuine interest and curiosity - I'm not accusing anyone of collecting a number on a slab. If grading were still not invented, do you think your collecting would still be the same? I can't tell from scans the difference between a 7 and a 9. Does that mean your quest for high-end cards would limit you to cards that you could see in person? Or would you still be able to maintain the focus and criteria you have now?
Do you think this hobby would be more interesting and challenging, or less?
Me? My collecting world is in the lower to middle ends, so usually I can tell from a scan if I would like a card or not - the differences are obvious. I'm not sure how it would work for characteristics that are less obvious. (Also, I'm not all that expert in higher end cards - it could be that these collectors can see some things in scans of 7's, 8's, and 9's that completely escape me.)
Joann