When did you find that coin and get the CAC ? Has to be so many fewer today than 5 or 10 years ago...though I guess with all the new raw coins (Fairmont, SDBs, estate sales, etc) there could be opportunities once the TPGs grade 'em.
This coin came from a 1980's collection, and I actually offered it as a CAC-worthy AU55 on my website for several months before recently delisting it to submit it to CAC.
Before the existence of CAC, I bought a sharp 1904 $20 in an older PCI green label MS62 holder, for 400 bucks (this was around melt price, in the early 2000s). Cracked it out (in fact, this was the first coin I used my “no tools” crackout method on), then I sent it off to PCGS. It came back in a PCGS MS64 holder. I think that was one of my best “cha-ching” cherrypicks.
The 1884-S dollar has been like this for years. Unless it’s a slam dunk Mint State piece, buying sliders in hopes of getting it into a Mint State holder is a loser’s game. The graders know about the price jump for Mint State and don’t give out the grade easily.
PCGS prices realized for an 84-S in 55 are between $650 and $1300. Price was pretty good. If there's a CAC sticker or CACG 55 holder in it's future, perhaps it gets flipped for more. Maybe the buyer will cross to NGC for a 58. Maybe they just like it for their collection as a very attractive 55 that they'll have no problem getting decent money for in the future. As for VAMs, there is only one that people will pay extra for, and that's VAM 11A, which has massive clashing on both sides. Only one known at this time.
I guess the inability to purchase the 1884-S in Mint State has increased the price of sliders. I'm just glad I have not played the Morgan Dollar game to a great extent, except when I was filling want lists.