Man, you guys are TOUGH graders
I guess I'm expecting a card graded a 7 to have some noticeable imperfections (which is why it's not an 8, 9, or 10).
I honestly view them as much closer to equal. I can obviously see the corners are better on the $40K card...but you guys seem to be giving the rough edge on the expensive card a free pass. Also, those imperfections do stand out more in the hi def auction scans because they are huge. In real life, at roughly 2 x 3 inches, I would still consider those corner touches and not missing corners.
But this friendly disagreement brings to light how that first card could have realistically gotten to 40K.
Let's say three of us were in the market for an SGC 7 Bowman mantle. BOTH cards would meet that criteria for me...and I would bid up to a certain amount for each.
But it sounds like I would be the ONLY one of us bidding on the cheaper card...while you guys battled it out for the other one.
With that lens, maybe the $40K was indeed a real sale.