[drc]

For the record, I don't like swatch cards or serial numbered cards, but I do like autographed cards and refractors.

As far as serial numbered cards go, much of the fun of Pre-War cards is the mystery and speculation of how many cards there are. How many T206 Honus Wagners are there? No one knows. I think modern issues would be more fun and fascinating for collectors, including young collectors, if there was no serial numbering and publication of insertion rates. Remember collecting is a hobby and a game, and having to figure things out, individually and collectively, rather having the answer printed on the back of the card, makes is much more like a game and a great puzzle. In the old days, young collectors often deduced which Topps, Bowman or regional cards were single prints and which double prints through the act of collecting and interacting with other collectors. In fact, many of these old time collector/dealer experiences are the basis for cards being listed as SP or DP in the price guides today.

Remember that for serious collectors, it's about much more than the objects themselves. Some collectors enjoy trying to deduce how many Honus Wagners or T206 Ty Cobb Port Reds there are. Others enjoy learning about the history of the game, and have a book shelf of baseball books that don't even mention baseball cards. Photo collectors enjoy learning about the photographers, photo processes and how photos were made. Game used bat collectors love researching old bats ... Serial numbers on cards are about short term cotton candy gratification, but, in my opinion, go against what collecting is about. Sure, a collector and his son piecing together a set single by single know they could purchase the finished set from a dealer today, but they don't want a finished set today as that's not the point of what they are doing.