David, it's before my time but I think the difference is that when it's the only thing available, it's better than nothing. Now that we all are familiar with the good times of the 90s and 00s, when there were options, and the key- the companies want to make cards but aren't allowed to anymore-that doesn't sit well because now we know something better, had something better, and lost it, and could easily have it again but the sports leagues just don't care as long as they are getting their dump truck full of money...that's what causes the anger.
I have a bit of a double standard in my collection. The early Topps NBA sets were unlicensed. Yet I count them as part of my collection with no second thoughts. Airbrush the logos off now, and it's not part of my collection. Example being the 1994 Star sets, any of the Classic brand cards that are pro images with the logos removed. Actually, I'll still take them into my collection, but I count them with my college cards. I consider them the dregs of my collection and don't even know where most of mine are, and I don't even know what appears in my collection. I have a rudimentary paper list, but 99% are not listed here. I have no files of them on Excel (yet) either, though I plan to in the not too distant future. But I digress.
VERY slow trading due to health problems. Not transferrable so safe to trade with, just moving is painful and can't always access the cards.
Cardboard History My COMC
New Collection Website: Cardboard History Gallery (Still under construction)
Tips on how to make your scans look like the card does in hand (No more washed out, fuzzy scans!):