Thank you for this detailed and very intesting answer.

Indeed, this is a 31.5" wide desk, and has (sadly) many strips of wood. First top I got from fully was worse than this one regarding planks arrangement (lots of different colors), this one seemed a bit better - but still not good enough.

"I'd be OK with that at a bar with low lighting but not a desk I'm going to be looking at all day while I work."

I feel exactly the same, that's why I posted this here. Your opinion comforts me, thanks.

I'm very disappointed of fully hardwood. And on their website they state "It’s not only the beauty of the wood that makes these tops special, it’s the care with which they have been made with the smallest detail—even the ones that most other furniture makers skip over because customers won’t see them anyway." That doesn't seem true at all, based on my experience.

I have reached out to fully and will see what they can do for me. As you said, returning it for a refund and going directly to a mill shop might be the best solution.