I'll explain.

"Most chips aren't the same! The ones that came off the table day one and the ones that were in play for 3 years are worlds apart."

Correct

But when you find a LE or modern chip, almost all are in like new condition, because collectors picked them off the tables, when they were new.

That should cover from 1990 to present. Yes, there will be used and worn examples, but there should also be a good supply of those in like new condition. As in, Not Rare or unusual.

Old chips fall into three groups. (I'm over simplifying)

1) Like New, but almost all chips from this place were discovered and are like new.

2) Used and found as they were from an older source, because they were all used on the tables.

3) Unusual because they are almost new chips, from a group that is normally found only in used condition.

So what I meant was, most examples of any chip are more likely to be in the same condition and the rest of the examples of that chip. Kind of like most things, they are more alike than different.

So if someone has an example of a chip that's in Like New condition, where most are in used and worn condition, I agree that is more likely to attract a condition collector.

If someone has a slightly used chip from someplace where just about every chip found is in slightly used condition, it doesn't matter much. Does it?

Condition only matters, when the majority of examples of that chip are in a lesser condition.

Hope that explains why the condition of most chips, are similar to the rest of the chips of that design, age and production, from that casino.

I might add that any LE in less than like new condition would be an unusual find.