In reality they are not essentially the same strain and definitely not "effectively" the same strain. There is no legal protection to a strain name where if a breeder has a hit with it any other breeder cannot then take similar plants but of different genetics and in effect create a new strain that to some degree or another may share in part some similarities with the original strain and then keeping that breeder from marketing it under the same name.
　
It is smart business sense. A breeder has a hit, you know what his basic recipe was so you follow the basics so you can claim the same basic combination but your genetics will be different and you may go about it in a somewhat different route but in the end you have something you can call the same thing as the original.
The original brings, and deserves, a higher price but you sells yours a whole lot cheaper and for all those out there who really want to grow the real deal but just can’t spend that much on genetics they allow themselves to be fooled that they will be getting all that close to the original by purchasing something that is genetically different but in their price range but most importantly carries the same name as what the buyer wants so that validates their choice. It is the strain name they want in their price range so that is all that matters to them.
　
I am not saying that all knockoffs stink or that some are not good values but anyone who buys one for the name and not for what it actually gives them being what they actually want is picking their genetics poorly. When you look at knockoffs you pretty much have to get past the shared name and see if what they give you is what you want and of course if it fits your budget and see it as just being a different strain instead of being the one you want but aren’t buying.
　
In the case of Doggies Nuts I do at least give them credit for calling their version White Widow #1. That at least denotes some difference or change, though to many it will imply an advancement when that in fact may or may not be the case, but at least they basically said this is supposed to be different, this is actually ours instead of using just the name and like so many breeders of White Widow do, use the very same advertising copy about the original White Widow about how it became so famous and popular in the coffee houses ..etc … you read the same copy under most breeders knockoff White Widow and that is misleading because that implies to people that it is the real deal instead of a knockoff.
　
But that explains the difference in price. The original deserves it, the rest don’t but depending on how much they think they can get for their version they will price it accordingly and hope the famous name alone carries sales on and on and that they do not have to rely on their own genetic dabbling to secure their financial future.
When it comes to purchasing good genetics and if it is worth it depends on two things really, if someone can actually get enough out of the genetics with their system to justify the expense and then the main one that trumps all else is if someone perceives it to be a value.
　
If you give the very best genetics in the world to an inexperienced grower with a less than adequate setup unless they just plain kill it off or totally butcher it they will likely end up with some amount of something that is pretty good. If it lives to harvest its genetics will still at least keep it pretty good … but in the hands of a very experienced grower with an optimal setup the difference between the two results could be astounding.
　
In that case you can not weaken or lessen quality genetics but you can get less out of great genetics that are there to be had due to various factors that could come into play but you still have the cushion of great genetics backing you up.
　
Now give that same ultra-experienced grower with an optimal setup some Roadside Red beans to grow and the very most he will end up with is the best example of Roadside Red that could be found. It will be genetically limited so no matter what could be done nothing will take it beyond its genetic limits. They can be totally maxed out to absolute perfection but they cannot be taken beyond that.
　
Good genetics are the key to any final outcome. They will not guarantee great but they guarantee you a chance at great but when dealing with poor genetics … well you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken shit no matter how much mayonnaise you use.
