Could one of you enlighten me as to why someone would want to take a piece of history (valuable history) and then pay someone else to remove it from its original packaging and then put it in a plastic box forever marking it with their impression/grading of the figure, that grader would then send it back to the owner? The owner now has a nice UV boxed figure (if it's not damaged, lost, incorrect etc) but the figure without its card has lost so much, the card backs themselves are nostalgic. The price the collector paid for postage and the service would have half paid for another MOC (cheap one)!
I just don't get it? :?
I have a loose collection and i'm beginning to build a MOC collection, I take great delight in showing off my collection to my mates and family whenever they visit as they are all of the same generation and really appreciate what I have, they especially like the MOCs.
Showing them a U graded AFA/UKG would be absolutely lost on them.
I as a collector like to have the loose figures as it reminds me of what I had, or wanted to have as a kid.
The MOCs are me appreciating history and a great inheritance for my 6 year old lad, who is soooo protective of daddies collection and loves playing with his beaters.
My lad is just as much of a SW geek as I am, so I know that for at least 2 more generations there will be MOCs which will not be getting sent to AFA/UKG.
Don't worry guys, MOCs will live forever!!