I’m not sure if age or seeing too much bad plastic surgery in the entertainment industry has affected my viewpoint on a restoration versus a total rebind, but I suspect both may play a part.  In a book I like the look of old, I like the smell of old, and I like the feel of old.  It speaks to the history and experience of a book.  Sometimes a book has been mistreated or may have been made with inferior products to begin with; and repair is required.  The goal is not to make the book look like new, but to restore it to its age appropriate appearance had it been well-maintained.

Here are some examples:

Before and After Samples

Repairs involving replacing missing pieces

Total spine replacements

Sample Total Rebinds