No, the * means exceptional eye appeal, not that it is high end for the grade. No when PCGS announced it as "THE BIG ONE" it was announced that NGC would be following suit about one month later. I haven't read the NGC announcement but if they are going to automatically apply the + to all submitted coins that deserve it, I think that is better and more fair than PCGS's method of applying the + to coins that deserve it only if you paid the extra money, and if you didn't you get a downgraded coin.