Leopard Gecko Registry; Unneeded Bureaucracy?

I've been lurking around on the net lately, and something popped up recently. It is called the Leopard Gecko Registry (LGR). The question I'm posing to everyone is, “Why in the world would you want to put such a bureaucracy in place?”

Sure, they is a huge list of breeders reproducing leopard geckos, including various (seems unlimited) color and physical morphs. They often sale similar animals under different names. Even quite different animals under the same name. I'm sure it would be nice to streamline names for the morphs, selecting certain traits that would set standards for each unique herpetocultive ambition. This is just the wrong place to do it. The proper place would be in reference materials; maybe a decent book overwhelmingly looked to by the hobby. I see the up side and perhaps the original reason for such a creation of a forum. It would allow parentage of offspring to be easily looked up, etc. Sort of sounds like the AKC, but for leopard geckos.

In a hobby where we are driven by pure interest in these animals, for whatever reason, why would we even dare to create such a registry? In effect you are just creating more work for yourself (paperwork, ehh) and more red tape for future herpetoculturists wanting to get started with their own ideas. Right now it is obvious that the LGR has no power in the reptile world, but if the conditions are right the LGR could become the next big thing in the leo world. In effect, you would be taking power out of your hands and putting it in someone else.

We already have system in place to do practically everyone the LGR was created for. It's called the free market. It dictates what each morph looks like and if accurate & detailed records are needed for a breeder to sell their stock. I personally like this system best because it shows the true nature of the product that is being offered. Luckily the LGR is also at the door of the free market and I'm sure that in a sort while it will become defunct.

With that being said, I have a feeling that while the LGR was created out of a good idea. It's nothing more then a hungry power trip for those who created it, and perhaps even those that are members. Time is better put somewhere else and with something much more creative.