...to determine the "grade" when it is a slab. Some casino chips can have surface distinctions that can only be determined by touching the chip.

I wouldn't trust anyone to tell me what a chip in a slab feels like. Period. Not even any of my friends, because their fingers aren't attached to my brain.

That's the difference between chips, and coins or baseball cards or comic books. Slabbing chips isn't inevitable as a standard in this hobby unless SOME people trying to minimize the impact are successful.

Bob