I never buy anything graded lower than VG+, but most VG+ records these days look like they have been dragged behind a car. Ex? don't make me laugh, this covers a multitude of sins. I don't expect a record with that grade to play with ticks and pops, but that's what you get these days.
I very rarely buy anything now unless there is a sound file.
I buy records to listen to them not look at them. You should always play grade them in my humble opinion.