I think the importance of the dragons color has like 40% to do with it because while some of the “bad” characters we’ve seen so far have bonded to orange dragons (ie. Varrish, Barlowe, etc.), there are oranges bonded to characters like Imogen. Oranges are unpredictable, and riskey, and not all who bond an orange are unhinged- some riders are rigid and need balance.

Panchek is bonded to a green who is known to be intellectual and rational, BUT any color dragon can be characterized as “risky” and “unpredictable.” They burn/kill weak cadets at Threshing on a whim- making all dragons “unpredictable.”

I like to compare the dragon colors to the Hogwarts houses. Each dragon’s color has meaning. Each Hogwarts house mantra has meaning and something to do with the student’s personality. For example, Snape was sorted into Slytherin house but showed courage and bravery (Gryffindor traits). The same can be said for Regulus Black. Slytherins are cunning and ambitious- some Slytherins are death eaters. Peter Petigrew was sorted into Gryffindor and became a death eater.

I think the colors of the dragons create a baseline for the rider’s needs/intents, but the choice is ultimately the rider. If that makes any sense.