I feel like most collectors from the 1990s have a lot of these books, but they either aren't in comics at all anymore (books are in storage), or they don't understand slabbing and have no experience with it. I can name 10 guys who collected comics when I did in the early 1990s. None of them are into comics now. The census can certainly grow, but until it does... a lot of collectors have to either buy slabs at current market prices or do without.
I think on these boards people forget most of the collectors out there mainstream buy raw books in various conditions. The slabs are a niche market with quirks and choices within. Raw book sales are still key.
Many on here tend to forget that.
It takes time, but market acceptance of slabs has grown significantly over the past 3 years here in Alberta. This spring I took slabbed and raw copies of a few Copper books to the Calgary Expo - most of the slabs sold while I still have the raw books in my show wall stock. It has become easier to sell slabbed SA and BA books, especially keys/1st apps, at the shows as well as collectors want more certainty that their $2000 purchase is relatively accurately graded (taking CGC inconsistencies into account) and unrestored (most importantly). I think this trend will continue to grow.
Very well said, I've also noticed a demand as well in my area and I love the sig line! (thumbs u