Is that record dead yet?

I'm just curious to know if there is some point where folks decide 'this record is too beat to play'? I picked up two potentially really great finds this week that are in less than primo condition. However, some of these deep grooves from the fifties will track fine after having been run over by a truck and such is the case here. The two records in question are Lou Donaldson - Swing and Soul (BN West 63rd) and Red Garland w/Trane - High Pressure (Prestige White Label Promo). On the later, I've seen sandpaper with less gloss, but it plays through and aside from a lot of pops it actually sounds OK.

I tend to lean more towards listening to music rather than my system, but I'm also met guys who won't put a scratched record on the TT. Just curious to see how people feel about this.