> I know the idea of forming diamonds from extracted carbon is attractive to some, but I don't think I'd want to participate in this.
>
> Counter"Help! I dropped my dad down the sewer grate!"point

Yeah, personally I'd go the cheaper route and turn the extracted carbon of my loved ones into graphite -- for pencil lead. I mean, if it's a diamond, you really can't do anything but look at it admiringly. Only one person can have it at one time. But hey, with my idea, you can share a little of grandpa with everyone you write a letter to.