Here's some of the known/probable/not-known list I have:

KNOWN: Breeding where a parent or grandparent is Dawnara or Levio is a gamble. Yes, you could get lucky and find a pairing which seems to produce something; but it's just that: luck. At this level in the genetic cesspool you have not had enough of a chance to affect things.

KNOWN: If we call the pairings 'slot machines', we can identify some as 'loose'. As above, this appears, so far to be largely luck. I have identified two classes of loose slots: those which pay off in a limited range (ie., usally produce Red or Clear) and those which pay off in a wide range (sometimes pays off in Coat, sometimes Size, sometimes Eye Color or Clarity). This later set is VERY LIMITED: I have (1) ONE example and three others which are being monitored as possibilities.

NOT KNOWN: Regard has an effect. A number of tests indicate it does not. I have limited tests which show a trend that it does. So far, neither data set has large enough statistical certainty to decide.

NOT KNOWN: Pit breeding has an effect. Actually, it's pretty clear it can swallow up your 60K "rare" trait but it's not yet shown pit breeding works. Perhaps we've simply not found the catalysts to cause the good stuff to settle out.

NOT KNOW: Line breeding has an effect. It's possible to construct a line chain which produces a given trait, but crossing in or out of the line has not yet worked reliably. Is seems a matter of luck if a cross-in kills the line; so far it's not improved it. A cross-out looks a lot like tossing the genes into the cesspool: they get swallowed up.

KNOWN: The regard game can be 'gamed'. Note: this is not cheating, it's using the rules to maximize your advantage. Whether you think this is good or bad depends on whether you think you're winning or loosing at it.

KNOWN: The fellowship game can be 'gamed'. Both private and public fellowships can be 'gamed' although the methods are slightly different. They've made some recent changes to help alleviate some of the worst the down-side effects; but the game remains game-able.

KNOWN: The Oracle game can be 'gamed'. They're working to fix this to some extent because the process to 'game' the Oracle is trivially simple and becoming wide-spread.

Overall characterization:

I think of the present state of the Meeroo game as we're all standing at the base of a cliff. It looks tall and intimidating and seems polished like marble but soft as sandstone.

Some of us have managed to pound in a few pitons without crumbling the face but are now trapped unable to move up and unwilling to climb back down.

I've been standing and looking at the face as a whole. I think I've seen a crack here or there, but I can't be sure. I remain hopeful I'll find a crack large enough for my pitons, but so far I have not.