I am on this forum quite regularly. I like to view people's pics and gain advice on husbandry from experienced herpers. Boa constrictors are my snake of choice and along with other snakes i've been keeping snakes for 15 years. I represent the "common guy" in that snake keeping and breeding are a hobby and not my profession. I have recently been able to spend a few $1000's on colombian morphs and 1 locale animal. The topic of crossbreeding seems to be on this forum quite a bit. Even so much as to debate the breeding within certain sub-species (Bcc's with other Bcc's). Many of you like to start your posts by saying "not to upset anyone but..." But it seems that a few of you take pot shots at each other.
You are a very specific group of people. You are "boa Connoisseurs". I wonder whether there is a cognac forum somewhere where users debate the mixing of grapes from the regions of cognac france, armagnac france, and jerez spain. Probably not.
I believe that "common people" choose which boas to purchase based primarily on aesthetics and not on geographical regions (which can rarely be verified anyways). Some of us like morphs, some of us like the look of BCC's, or hogs. But I think that is the extent of the "normal guys" knowledge of subgroups. We like boas for primarily for their "looks" so that means that yes a sunset boa is a desirable boa. Maybe I should stay out of it because this is admittedly a forum, a place for such Boa Connoisseurs to have such discussions. But the average guy most likely will want a BCC with a deep red tail and peaks and not care whether it is a Guyana-Suriname mix.
I think the hobby is very appreciative of those of you who have made the commitment to keep certain locales pure and retain the characteristics of locale animals. Your efforts will ensure that these groups are available in the trade and may one day become the only examples as some numbers in the wild dwindle.
It is my opinion that the "common guy" chooses a boa for the same reason a person selects an albino ball or a dwarf retic, because it looks cool.
Merry X-mas, Jonathan