I think encapsulating is fine, paying someone to tell you the grade of your card when that firm isn't even using consistent standards when you already have a great eye for it is the part I don't get. Encapsulate the best cards you can find that meet your eye appeal and save thousands of $! I get it, the competition of the registry is what people are really paying for but does that registry really hold any water given the lack of consistency in grading standards and scales?
If it wasn't for thee registry, I will be honest, I would not care for the grading on the cards as much. I know this because if I get a card graded that I need for my set,and it is graded by another company. I will not consider that I have that card until it is crossed over to PSA. I know it is quirky, but it is how I am built. I am also thinking it has to do with the hunt. I am sure you would understand this. We both have enough cards to make more than one ungraded sets.(1-16). I know I can build many of those. However my registry set is the only one that I am constantly upgrading. I do not upgrade the ungraded sets at all. I feel those are completed and that is all. The PSA set is graded and it gives me a measurable target to shoot for. Like that Leeks Oil, we both know that the card is usually very off center and as such hard to have a well centered piece. However a 10 does have to fit certain qualifications to be labeled a 10, no matter how much we think they are forgiving or strict. I does have to first fit those parameters to be considered. This also makes the hunt for them even more fun. ( as I said when I buy a 2000 piece collection, I truly do not need another 1-16 set. But the upgrade of a card or even the thrill of the upgrade (after it is sent in) is what makes me enjoy this hobby. I have cards in my discard piles that I know will grade 7s and people would love to have them in their collections as their keepers. However to me I just want the mint or higher and that is what I will subscribe to. Now if I put a collection of really nice cards and said "this is a Mint set, I want X amount for it". Or if I have a graded set and said I want X amount for it, which one of those two set would I likely get the greatest return for my work, (factoring in everything from cost of card to cost of grading) I feel I will get a higher return with the graded set by multiples. I also on a Sunday do enjoy going thru the cards to find the prime specimens..