I cringe at the funds spent on judging as it is. I don't have a GC, let alone a GC at the AJ. AJ champions wouldn't be enough to supply all of the judges required either. Now how many GC's could I have purchased had it not been for the monetary committments of judging? More than a few, for sure LOL. Its not about whether you own a GC, its a matter of you can correctly pick a GC and sort through the attributes through your "eyes" to make that determination.
I think I have won every award possible short of GC over the last 10+ years of showing Koi from one coast to the other and most places in between. Even a few awards abroad.
Does that in and of itself mean I can judge? Nope, the exposure and experience however has helped my "eyes" sort out the attributes though.
Steve