I disagree, qualtiy breeds quality, it is undeniable. The breeder knows his koi and what they can do. When I was in Isawa in October picking koi, Toshio Sakai put three showa on my tub. Actually he put quite a few in my tub and I picked the predictable. When I was done picking he put the same three showa in an empty tub. The showa are not unlike the Yamamoto showa I used as an example here. They, in my mind, are pretty bland. I decided to take the hint and I brought the showa back with me. Toshio never said a word about what he wanted me to do with them. I decided to set them aside and watch them mature. They are changing in a rather positive way, but if Toshio had not, in his own way, insisted, I never would have bought them. I am happy I did.
I do agree with you on a point though. It is a gamble, but only if the quality is not there.
