I think mtg might be a better forecast
I wasn’t around back then, but I’ve heard during the pre boom years it was pretty much 10 or bust for vintage, and 9s were pretty undervalued during that period of time. Gradually 9s became more expensive, and now 8s seem like a pretty good value buy.
There’s higher POP and availability of 8s versus 9, but maybe in the distant future 8s will have more demand as popularity/interest grows.
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PSA 9s grew a bit out of necessity, not because they were destined to increase in value. Vintage PSA 10s became so outrageously expensive during the COVID boom (remember 1st ed Base commons selling for five figures?) that PSA 9s were the only affordable/realistic option for the majority of the collector base.
Vintage holo PSA 8s “move” the same as PSA 9s so they tend to hold some value, but I wouldn’t expect them to increase over time beyond what is expected due to inflation and general economic conditions.
They’re a good deal for sure, but most collectors don’t like to see “NM-MT” or “PSA 8” on their slab. The slab label buying psychology is real.
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“Buy the card not the grade”
It’s possible to find recently graded 7’s and 8’s that are mint+ cards. There’s a lot of instances where you could remove their plastic prison and actually increase their value 
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I know you’re not suggesting that you can’t find old cert strong 7s for regrading. PSA has not and will not ever change their grading scale or implementation. I won’t stand for it. I’m personally attacked by your mere suggestion
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I don’t think that’s what they were saying. It was more of just buy what you like regardless of the grade. I think
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I’m actually a wailmer hunter, currently sharpening my harpoons
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Lol
And to be honest, nowadays you even gotta go set by set. It’s totally different getting an 8 for Fossil, jungle or base set unlimited than a 8 for Skyridge or a 7 from Neo Rev.
Even PSA 3-6 are in demand for expensive/popular cards like gold stars, shinings, etc. How investable will these be in the future is a bigger question.
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I want to collect PSA 1s. Kind of like what they have in coin collecting with lowball sets.
My edition “d” error butterfree that graded for PSA 1 is one of my personal favorite cards.
This is very true
crack a psa 4 that doesn’t have creases, it’s investible (allegedly, could it be).
Will likely average 3.33% gains annually so long as the cabal continues to do their job.
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Bless the cabal.
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I’ve done it before. They aren’t as cheap as you would think lol People pay more for the novelty