[scaryspooky]

Most lumber stamping is done by machine vision. If you've spent any time at a big box store that sells lumber you will realise how shitty lumber can be while still having that magical grade stamp. I've picked up 2x4s that break when you pick them up at one end but they still have a grade stamp and could be used in a structural wall because it bears the correct grade stamp.

[Tempest1981]

So based on that, do we A) fix/improve our quality controls, or B) get rid of them entirely?

[scaryspooky]

c) use our brains instead of looking for a stamp

For most stick construction you can clearly see a 2x4 or 2x6 will or won't support the load given the checking and knot size. Code, though, requires a grade stamp.