Pretty toning helps since eye appeal is part of their evaluation, but toning and even pretty toning doesn't mean it will automatically sticker
For that kind of money, I'd be looking for one-sided color to be on the obverse. My impression is that color did play into the decision to award the bean. Without the color, I'd have graded the coin a 62 at best . . . way too much action on Liberty's face.
Toning must have played an important role in several opinions on this one. I can't believe the obverse would look much better in hand than it does in the photo. I would pass by this one for MS63 money let alone $150.
Yeah, that kind of money should include the term "MS65" on the slab, and although the color is nice the grade assumes you're not looking at the obverse at all.
Toning, if it is attractive toning, enhances the chance of a bean. I think that particular coin has attractive toning. In my years of collecting toned Morgans, it has been my experience that beans are not given to "fade to black" toning, just as NGC will not give a star to a toned coin that has black in it. Both see black as terminal toning.
My experience/opinion is that CAC will allow minor color bumping, but very rarely and nowhere near the extent of the grading services.
