It's a difficult one to pin down because the question is asked of an average across all dealers. i.e. are there are more dealers who are generous with their grading? Equally valid is the question 'are there are more dealers full stop?' In an age when everyone can set up shop on the internet, the explosion in people who can and do use this option means there is less practical resistance to becoming a dealer. If it was necessary to travel to the fairs and do the circuit (with large expenditure on fuel and hotels), then there would be far fewer dealers, but the virtually zero cost of being on-line means that goes out of the window. It would be a fairer question if you took a couple dozen people at random from then and now who only ply their trade as a fully fledged business and attend fairs, issue lists and deal across the board etc as these are likely to be more experienced and you would expect consistent in their grading.