MikeP: You're asking whether a $1500 nisai at half price is a good deal? ...Is there a trick in there? Hmmmm.... well, what did the trip to Japan cost to get the half-priced nisai?
BTW, nice one! Marudo?
As a general principle, I do not disagree with anything being said about buying tosai unloaded by a breeder. I think the proper comparison is with the tosai the breeder has decided to keep to grow to nisai. Have you seen many of those for sale in Japan?