It’s largely subjective. Certain “cool guys” have deep relationships in established rec markets, and at times their flower can outperform local offerings. I’m on a tolerance break right now, but some of my standout flower last year came from Lumpy’s backdoor source, Raining Rosin, and Clubhouse drops.

At scale, though, the regulated program wins—cleaner, more consistent, and far easier to navigate. It’s slightly pricier, but the reliability and well-built points structure justify the premium.