I also am one of those who will not buy a "restored, repaired or touched up" sign. I believe the general consensus in the hobby is leave an item alone.

Of course the bottom line is; It is your sign and you should do what you want with it.

Just a word of advise, if you do "restore-repair" the sign and then decide to sell it, inform the potential buyer. Nothing worse in this hobby to have someone spread the word that you tried to pass off an item that had been altered in someway...

Looking for Tide Water/ Tide Water-Associated/ Tidewater items