My 70 D 35 continues to be a very satisfying guitar. They were a popular D 18 alternative with college students at the time, because the brown rice and veggies crowd could eat for a month on the $75 price difference. It seemed to me to be the popular sweet spot for the all solid wood dread. Yes, Guild had a top grading system to relegate less than perfect spruce to the lower cost models. I've seen too many D 25 and D 35 tops to think otherwise. Martin would not have been caught dead making guitars with it. Being purely cosmetic, Guild owners had no problem with dark stain or burst tops. My D 35 is pretty much 75% very fine bear claw, seen only in certain light. As for what many see as substandard tuners, I view the open back Japanese tuners to be a plus due to light weight, and they have never failed. I spent an hour last night with my D 35, and while it isn't as sophisticated as my Santa Cruz, it was also less than one third the cost. I have a well spent $1400 in mine and have found nothing better in that price range. But it is not a Martin, and was never meant to be. It's far too balanced.
It has one of my favorite necks and is the guitar I grab first for travel or camping. It is a fifty plus year old guitar and looks it though it's crack free. If I found one in need of work, I'd have no problem with an all in price of $1800 or so. Some would think that foolish, and really so did I when I found I had $1400 invested in a $1000 on a good day at the time. Old wood can't be replicated, and if old guitars float your boat, it's well worth it. Negatives? My logo is very faded.
I think someone was selling one for $1800 after a reset and a refret, and I don't think that is out of line. Around 73 all guilds were built heavier and you may or may not like that.