I get quite alot of HGTC boards and have noticed some of them will have 1 or 2 socketed IC chips. Now from what I have read, if it is soldered to the board, you don't take it off. I will post a picture of some examples. If I removed these ICs, they would still be a HGTC, and sometimes I'll find the same or similar board that has the socket but no IC and is still a high grade tele. (Or sometimes the solder spots without the chip but I'm not going to desolder anything off a board unless it was literally junk)

On those specific boards you posted, You could remove the socketed ICs and they would remain in High Tel.

It's a decision in reason to remove the ICs. Boards being highly populated like so, and removing a couple ICs doesn't effect it but let's say half of those ICs weren't there and you removed 2-3 socketed ones, that will effect the outcome.

I've ran into boards where there's 10 gold capped 8086's on them and they're soldered in. It would be up to your decision to sell as is or remove the ICs, knowing you could get a better payout with the IC's removed.

Time n judgement

That's what I figured it's a matter of knowing what you have.If you remove a few, I c's that are socketed if it's still a high grade, then that's fine.If it affects it and makes it a low grade, then leave them. As far as soldered things go, it appears that boardsort really doesn't want you touching anything soldered unless it's worth it for you to do so in a personal sense.

I wish this was posted in Escrap General Discussions.

You're absolutely correct, It should be in that sub. My apologies my friend!

First of all. This post should be in General Discussions. My opinion. But. I feel strong on my remarks. You post Ethics. Yes. Ethics. In philosophy. Ethics is protocol. What is acceptable. Ethics is removed from morality. Spence1015 said in his post. "a decision in reason". What a statement! Do we? Or don't we? E.G. For me. Pictured is a hard drive board. Without socketed IC. Then I inserted some IC. Ethical. Or Immoral. Well. Hard drive goes for $20 lb. IC? $12.50 lb. As Spence1015 says. " a decision in reason". Yes. This is scrapping. What can I reasonably do and make an acceptable profit ?.... Yet..... Not to be " cheating"?? Philosophically that can be expounded on. But. I think the following example will pretty well frame the term "ethics" or acceptable behavior for escrappers. So
then someone collects aluminum cans. Someone has cans totally clean.( drank product at home or business) Someone picked up cans from the "street".( street cans covered with dirt. Etc.) Now. The cheater. Quote." Make sure you put a little rock in every can". I only mention this example cause I actually met this type of individual. I was and still am stunned. For I knew him to be a dislocated Steelworker. (NOTE. I can talk about this stuff. I'm Western Pa. Family is coal miners. Steelworkers.) That act alone drives the price of cans down. That's a individual that s#@ts in the bowl he eats from. My point. Ethics? Yes. We strive to get a decent price. We operate within known boundries. Depopulate or not. Etc. But. To deliberately put a rock in an aluminum can and turn it in to the weighmaster. That dude is in another world my good man. As the old adage says. "One bad apple spoils the whole bunch." Enough said. I held back posting my opinion on "ethics". Thought it a bit too much. But. It should be pointed out. Cherry picking within known boundaries. Hey. It's scrapping. Not outright deception. Get real.
Here to learn like everybody else.