Not a judge, just an Iris Aficionado. But, I love broken color and I love distinct patterns, but I also love selfs. I love variety, variety, variety. And I hate to say it but with regard to my own collection, I don't care that much how many bud counts it has or whether it has great branching, just that it blooms in any given year and I get to see it. If something has beautiful branching one year and never blooms again, it's beautiful branching is lost on me. But then again, I do see why branching can be a nice quality because it's beautiful for Show Irises and for those who like to do flower displays. Again, I consider it just one more addition to the vast variety Irises offer. A something for everyone offering.
Another thing to consider: When I have friends or family go through the garden in Spring, they are often drawn to the distinct patterns and unusual colors. The black ones are big hits. If I had a purple Iris that had perfect branching and lots of buds, they are not going to even notice it. And I am sure this goes on at display farms too. Sometimes that variety of color/patterns can really get someone who hasn't grown them before, excited about irises.
