Why is (this card) worth more than (this card)?

[darwinbulldog]

I find that my aesthetic preferences are more or less uncorrelated with the preferences of the hobby in general. In some cases I diverge pretty dramatically. I think, for example, that about 95% of T205s are ugly, compared to about 50% of T207s. The b/w American Caramel issues and 1939 Playball cards look great to me, but 1941 Playball and 1949 Leaf are garish at best, and hideous in quite a few cases. The '52 Topps Mantle I think is the absolute least attractive of all his Bowman and Topps cards from 1951-1956, and don't get me started on the #144 Ruth Goudey (let alone his atrocious-looking M101-5/6s).

I used to be genuinely disappointed that everyone else seemed to have such tacky taste, but now I'm just happy with all the money my unusual preferences have saved me.