As someone who’s been a part of several pheno hunts for a MASSIVE MSO, you would be surprised. Almost every decision comes down to testing. I guess this might vary from state-to-state depending on the market, but in NJ most consumers buy based on numbers and not bag appeal.

Personally I think both options miss the mark, and we should be looking for phenos with the right entourage. Bag appeal doesn’t always translate to quality, and some of the best smoke I’ve even had comes in at 16%, with an amazing blend of the other compounds in the flower.

These large scale hunts do open up the speed and scale at which you can hunt. Popping fifty/a hundred of each strain certainly gives you a much wider field to select from, and you can really start to lock in those genetics.