i got my first loupe! i got it off ebay for 4.25 total. its a 10X 20X and for the price it is everything i was expecting. it works well and is a good loupe for a beginner like me. i'm happy and now i can see my coins in much better detail, much to my dismay! lol at least i have a better tool with which to grade my coins. finally i can really look at coins properly.
It is indeed a tool you need. But you don't need it to grade coins. Grade coins with your eyes - not a loupe.