The large, thick ones I have received have all shown signs of being overly bloated, whether new or old varieties. The foliage bursts at the bottom of the fan, and I don't think you'd always see that in a natural setting. Within a few months those huge plants shrink back to normal size, and I can't imagine why anyone would desire to get a plant that is stressed like that - I've never seen anything healthy happening while it retrogrades.
To each their own, as there are always two camps (or more) on a subject, and there are certainly many who cite it as a recommendation or validation of a seller's success. A bit like the emperor's new clothes, especially when a premium is paid, so I suppose it makes sense that sellers and buyers are invariably eager to find new ways to justify and gloss it over. I've learned, though, to reason things out and keep a pinch of skepticism about direct selling points - always a good idea.
