Posted By:
JimCrandellJoe,
My opinions on a couple of things you said.
1)I know hundreds of graded card collectors(literally) and I do not know one that was or is a coin collector.
2)Of these hundreds, I don't know anyone who thinks of it primarily as a portfolio. Aware of the investment value sure but portfolio?
3)I do not believe that collectors in the hobby were more knowledgeable about grading their own cards in the 1980s. Alterations were less widespread then. The demand for grading came in the early 1990s when because of the increased alteration of cards that collectors lost faith in the hobby. It was only after the advent of third party grading(PSA) that collectors(at least high end collectors) at faith enough that the cards were not being altered that they began buying again.
4)Fought the trend has nothing to do with shiny stuff--it refers to the many dealers and collectors who ridiculed third party grading until eventually it took over the high end of the hobby.
Good luck to you as well--you sound like you enjoy the hobby. Trust me--people who collect graded cards love it just as much as collectors--not as part of a so-called "portfolio".
Jim