If you have a compatible cable (or can make one), and can source a reasonable replacement for the ALPS Esc key, this is a nice deal for a board that'd otherwise fetch well over $100.
There seem to be a lot of these with missing labels.
You're right, and I don't know why. Do they deteriorate? I've seen a couple of Northgates sold with laser-printed replacement logos (which the sellers mentioned up-front), and they looked fine to me. Some people require everything to be authentic, but the rest of us are primarily interested in how well stuff works.