Grading Has Clouded Our Minds...

[ASF123]

I love for my cards to be as nice as I can get but not encased in a plastic coffin.

Concur. It kind of feels like a card in a slab ceases to be a card, i.e. a thing in and of itself. It's just an accessory to the "PSA prestige and scarcity" that people are chasing. Totally understand the authentication/peace of mind aspect of it, though - although given the trimming scandal and the wild inconsistencies demonstrated in this thread and elsewhere, there's nothing "real" about a PSA grade. But the market still largely treats it as if there is, so there is peace of mind that comes with it. I think I would want graded for any card above maybe $400-500?

[GasHouseGang]

I'm going to say #1. I don't like the looks of the left lower corner.

[JollyElm]

The ferocity of looking straight into the barrel of the Ryan cannon as he's about to blow you away?? Best...card...evah...