Another factor is that my kids know that when they come to me that they are going to be expected to work harder, longer and deeper then other classes. For that reason, after the first few days of the year, several make the choice to take other teachers and that has to be O.K. with me. I was under the impression for a while that since grades are meaningless, they could be ignored. That was incorrect. Kids need that grade sheet for everything from driving, to parental approval, to getting to college.
Grades can get in the way of learning, or they can be used as a learning tool if done well.
But, doing it well means knowing the students, their needs and their situations very well. I would love to say I always do it well, but I can say that I do a better job of grading now that I respect them for their power. This deal with the devil is always in negotiation. If I had the choice, grades would not be necessary, but I am motivated by grades and so are my students. For both of those classes I paid good money, spent a lot of time and tried my very best.