I, too, buy almost exclusively raw cards. I don't have the space to store the oversized holders, and I find that the label takes away from the beauty of the card.
I pay no attention to the "grade" that the seller gives to a raw card - I judge it myself and bid accordingly.
I also wonder why people get cards graded that are not worth as much as it costs to grade them.
The only value I see to grading is protection against counterfeiting, alterations, and the like. However, I have bought some cards that have been trimmed, and as long as it was done well that doesn't really bother me. If a card is worth more than, say, $300 or so, I am more likely to seek a graded version - or at least be very careful when buying a raw card at an apparent "steal".
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