... those of us that prefer denominated chips have offered reasons that fall on the lines of such as security, confusion, and our design preferences. (In some cases, people designing with idea of this being part of the "casino look" as mentioned here.)
I do hear you, and appreciate the care taken with your responses. That said... I haven’t heard anything hugely convincing on these topics yet. I’ll try to break my doubts down in detail:
1) Security. I don’t see how printed denominations realistically add security. Maybe I’m missing something here, but honestly IDGI.
* The only real way to ensure security IMHO is to select players carefully and keep an eye out for anomalies, e.g. if suddenly when putting away chips, racks are light.
* There are far bigger security risks that I can think of... For example, I often play in non-casino games which use chip types which are widely available for sale online, or even at Wax-Mart. An unscrupulous player could keep a case of miscellaneous commonly-used chips in their car, and during a break in a game bring in some chips which “work” for that game. They’d have to figure out a way to get them on the tables. With such commonly-available chips—say, blank Dice Chips, or Milanos with denoms—the host ought to customize them some way to prevent cheating like that. (Most hosts seem totally unconcerned about this.) But it’s not denoms/no denoms that is the concern, it’s the wide availability of matching chips.
* I currently have separate (Starburst solid) sets for cash and tourneys. Chips from one game can't be used in the other. So denominations aren’t necessary to prevent that, unless one uses the same colors in both. As above, in theory a player in my game could find close matches online... But that is not likely, especially if I’m selecting players carefully. And this would come out in the wash, one way or another.
* Or, say there are concerns about people palming chips from one session and using them in another... I guess in a tourney, a player who is way ahead in the final stages (with piles of chips in front of him) of one session could pocket a few from his giant stack and not significantly alter his fortunes in that event; then use these next time to give himself an edge in earlier stages of the following session. But denoms wouldn’t make any difference. An unscrupulous player can do that either way.
* If the stakes and denoms in a game change, and the same chip changes value, as already discussed theoretically a held over chip could become more or less valuable. But I don't have issues with players holding onto chips or finding chips on the floor from previous sessions. And the likely cost to the house (if the box were light as a result) is likely to be negligible. This doesn't worry me. Changes in stakes are seldom, and I trust my guys.
* In a cash game, someone could take chips off the table and use them later... But that is no advantage. And the box would be heavy one game, light the next one, by the same amount. I just am not concerned about this, for all the same reasons as above.
2) Confusion. We may have to agree to disagree on this one. I don’t see how denoms really lessen confusion, except among the very most distracted and sloppy players, who I don't want to play with anyway, even if it is profitable, because they make the game suck. Someone who can't remember a chip’s value after 15-30 minutes of play is likely to remain confused in this (and many other) ways. As already set forth, in the many different games I’ve played in, colors and progressive markings reduce confusion; denoms don’t. But, again, one can always provide a handy reference card to anyone who is chronically confused.
3) Design Preferences. Sure. Taste is taste. Some people like donuts, some like krullers, and that’s just that. ... But. I think this falls in the category of “I like what I’m used to, just because I’m used to it.” Which to me isn’t so much a preference as a habit.
Analogy: As a designer and also a writer, I’ve worked at (or written about) publications (or products) which changed their look. Even when the redesign is objectively and substantially an improvement over the old one, there are always more people who say “I liked the old design better.” No matter what. Then they get used to it, and begin to see why it is better... And then they like the new look. And will defend it, if years later, another new design is introduced.
I think it is worth examining
why one has a preference. If the answer is “it’s just what I’m used to,” that’s really not a great reason IMHO. If the answers are “This serves an important purpose which needs to be retained,” or “This represents an improvement in the look/play of a game, without any real loss of functionality” those seem to me more valid.
We all have our faults..I'm a Habs fan, and you a Hawk fan. The custom cloth logos can easily be changed.
