After all this, I'm not sure we have an adequate definition of "mediation." As I understand it, mediation is what happens in the process of a collector passing on the work of a performer to a larger audience. In my understanding, mediation in itself is neither good nor bad - it's just the process of handing the work from a performer to a group of people through a third person, the mediator. The mediation of some mediators has a strong effect on what the ultimate audience receives, and the good mediators have an almost transparent effect on the end product. So, to my mind, the mediation is always present, and it's the effect of that mediation that is either good or bad.
And I'm not sure that's totally correct - sometimes, strong mediation can have a very good effect.
But for a collector like Jim to say there is no mediation in his work, I'd say that has to be incorrect. The mediation is always there, and then it's up to us to evaluate the effects of that mediation.

-Joe-