The Star designation wasn't and isn't just for toned coins - it was for any coin with superior eye appeal. The coin could be blast white and get the Star.
sort of off topic, but the grant half without the star in that collection is actually a Bridgeport half. I wonder if it was a web error or a collectors error. Also welcome to coin talk.
I'm on board with hontonai and not on board with the toning folks. Although I am glad that people have different tastes: if we all had the same exact taste in coins, prices for some of them would be much higher.