Question for raw set builders who crack out

[Uncle Miltie]

The only reason I purchase slabbed cards is to avoid buying items that are not close to their expected grade. If I can not hold the card in my hand before purchasing it, and it is an expensive one, I'll buy it slabbed. And when I get it, it comes out of the slab and into a top loader: no albums for me. I have been collecting 52's since 1974, and paying NM-MT prices for cards designated as such by someone else is not something I wish to do. VG-EX to EX-MT are fine with me, as long as the card looks nice and the image is clean. I have no intention of ever selling them, and am not worried about what will happen to them when I pass away, so aside from what I have to pay to acquire something I like, retaining the "value" of keeping cards in their slab is not too important to me.