Question on survival estimates and those "R" numbers

I was able to get back to the coin shop today and I managed to get a couple of decent upgrades for my type set. One of them was a pretty buffalo nickel and the other was a capped bust dime. After getting home, I started to look into my current capped bust dime (a very well-circulated one) and PCGS has this particular coin at something like 150 survivors and at R7.

So what I am curious about is the accuracy of these estimates, including that R number. For clarity, it's a 1823 Large E dime that is getting bumped out for a 1837. I'd guess the 1837 might be in the XF range, and the 1823 maybe Fine on a good day.

Anyways is their survival estimate something that might be construed as under- or over-estimated and would that then change the rarity number associated with it? I recall before when I had posted about my California fractional and mentioned that R number someone else had said they saw an entirely different number elsewhere.

Curiosity sometimes gets the better of me so I find myself coming back here and starting a new topic to be short-lived and hopefully walk away a bit wiser. And... so you aren't left reading all of this without seeing any pictures of any coins, here's my new additions!

 

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Check that Buffalo for an RPM. The MM placement looks really close to RPM-009.
http://varietyvista.com/03 Buffalo Nickels/RPMs 1938-D.htm

 

I'll take a look at it, thanks!