The challenge to grow a $100+ half inch frag that came from a tank with all the high end equipment like from a professional vendor tank. Most hobbyist are not investing in all the high end equipment needed to be successful long term. Nor do they have the knowledge needed to maintain a successful reef tank.
But that is what is good for vendors right? Hobbyist keep buying high priced corals, try and grow them for a few months. They die. Hobbyists return and buy more half inch corals. Said half inch cora will die before it even starts growing 3-6 months after purchase.
Revolving cycle for most.
Then you hear there are secrets of the game that vendors are holding back so that hobbyist can't be as successful. Just look at all the vendor weekly sales that go on and alot of them are sponsors on this site. There are numerous vendors turning 2000+ corals weekly but we as hobbyist have yet to master or even be successful at keeping corals long term.
Again, revolving cycle for most. And now the expensive cost of equipment just makes this hobby a wish for most...