You are both completely correct and it is sad how cheap and easy you can just buy reptiles. Especially when a few newer breeders don't ask for a license? I have only owned reptiles a few months now however I volunteered in the zoological industry for over a year and every chance I got, I was with the reptiles. I did my homework, I looked at sights I was told to look on etc etc. However owning your first one is a steep learning curve. Both of my snakes have been great, no dramas but bearded dragon hatchlings, I didnt realise you needed so much stuff for them as the "zoo" didnt have all of this stuff for them, they had 5.0 UV, they didnt give them calcium/vitamin supplement, they kept the smaller ones with the bigger ones, the list goes on. I had never even heard of this forum until I got reptiles and I am glad I did, I have had a few problems with my beardies since I got them. I thought I had done the research, I had worked with hatchlings every week, I knew what they ate, that they needed live insects etc but got mis-informed with some information.
My point is, sometimes the information your given is incorrect and sometimes people give up. And this is where problems start. I obviously havn't given up, I love my guys to bits, both are eating fantastically, both have fat bellys, both are shedding well, both love to be handled and get their fresh vegies/crickets/supplements as well as a spray every morning. I dont know if I am making sense, just chucking a point out there?