some observations...
Check through the top 10 entries from the latest contest and see how many plants came from regular, 'common or garden' garden centres, and how many came from bonsai stockists.
(as an aside, in the UK a nursery differs from a garden centre. Nurseries will have larger stock, more suited to landscape planting and the price reflects this. Garden centres are aimed at 'weekend' type consumers, who mostly want small plants for their garden with the occasional large plant here and there. I get the feeling that this is different in the US?)
After the last contest, where I trawled round more than a dozen garden centres/nurseries, I arrived at the conclusion that these places were no good for bonsai stock at all. Maybe I was being too fussy, perhaps I didn't look hard enough. I don't think so though.
My Point? Don't expect to fall over a stunning piece of material when visiting garden centres. In fact, don't even expect to find any mediocre material even after inspecting every plant in the place.
BTW Will, you really do need to practice what you preach, mate. Ron is only offering his point of view on this subject, nothing more. No need to go getting all defensive
Regards,
Chris.