Dealers opinions could be useful as long as they can resist the temptation to push their own stock. Pretty daunting task I’d say, unless you are lucky enough to operate outside of any financial concerns.
Then there’s the issue of watching passively as someone chooses a clearly inferior product when a better alternative is readily available. Or worse, going elsewhere. Some may find it easy, some might prefer watching train wrecks. Totally beyond me.
As a control freak I’d prefer to be at the design end, no strings attached. Just turning out the best product I could at the given price range.
Of course, that runs the risk of doubting your own sanity if it fails to sell, but at least that way you might finally get the sound that you’ve always been after.
