Excellent point Archie! Not only , as you stated,
it would be a major undertaking for a grading service to develop holders. Also large number of items are needed to grade. In order to find ones of perfection thousands would have to be graded.
Even dealers of strikes can't obtain such huge quantities since they don't exist as they do with coins. Grading services also discount to these dealers for submitting vast quantities. The individual collector will pay between $10-$30 just for grading. Will the cost be offset by the "added" value of a high grade? Not likely since only those at or near perfection will produce this result. To carry Archie's other statement about why is this being discussed a bit
further is even more relevant. Why the emotional crusade against grading by the club at all?
Why are their petitions to be signed? Why an emotional diatribe bordering on hysteria? Am I overstating? Hardly. The earlier message in this thread stating " I would rather place damaged strikes in my collection than a slabbed strike" ( paraphrase ) is a perfect example of the hype.
You are absolutely, positively, 100% accurate in the assessment of the grading issue Archie. It is a non issue. I challenge anyone to prove it has adversely affected any hobby. Coin collecting is doing very well thank you. So perhaps the club should be examined for direction. A few questions to ponder. Has the club furthered the hobby as a whole or served special interests of individuals?
Are dealers and certain members using the club for profit motives? Is the issue of so called slabbing being maintained to provide a flag to rally around instead of providing truthful information about silver strikes? We owe a lot to Archie Black for bringing these thought provoking issues to light. With more members like Archie this club can achieve the level it so truly deserves.