Pricing of qualified grading

[ParisianJohn]

Agreed that the standard for at least the past decade that I've been buying vintage has been to dock 2 grades. I further agree that if the eye appeal isn't hurt much that I would rather have a nice 8 that is off-center or marked than a 6 with no qualifiers.

I have an N28 Allen & Ginter Comiskey from 1888 that is graded at PSA 5 (MK). If the image below you can see the mark, which looks like a couple of dots and maybe that tiny smudge up top that possibly came from a ball-point pen. I also recently learned ball point pens were invented in 1888.

The seller was asking for what a 4 was going for at the time of purchase and I sprung at it. I just don't see how these little dots take the value down two grades. Had they been on the back I'd have paid the value of a 5 for this card. At least that's what I'll try to convince everyone if I ever sell it!