>>A detailed grading system like this is a necessary prerequisite to a successful program of slabbing.

I'm not certain why you believe that slabbing can't exist under a differant type of grading system.

The difference between the two gradings here is only in the deatil. If you have system with only 5 grades (poor,fair,good,very good,mint [as an example]) it is only a matter of time before people start describing their chips as "good-very good" or "very good+" essentially doubling the number of possible grades. In addition it is only a matter of time before we start seeing disputes,arguments,discussions, and complaints about misgrading.

"The Seller said it was 'mint' when in fact it was only 'very good'" This is when the slabbers move in. I don't see why they can't slab a chip and mark it in 'Mint' grade.

Although I believe that we need a grading system, I believe that it should be a descriptive system perhaps multi-faceted with grades for different parts of the chip. It should not be numerical as that offers little insight to the condition of a chip.

However I see the need for a grading system and the prospect of slabbing as not being the same thing. While slabbing requires a grading system of some sort, it is apparent to me that the lack of a grading system can fuel the market for slabbing and it will be the slabbers who would then create a grading system.