I think that for many people who would buy this kind of bass...it's the experience of everything the bass has been through that's part of the appeal. A refinish and a new fretboard take that away.
It's not the same thing i know...but I've had a life long love affair with old VWs and given a choice between a 65 beetle with a new interior and new paint against a 65 in OG paint with all it's life on show...it's always gonna be OG. My gut feeling is that it may be the same kinda thing here.
It's a personal thing y'know.