i hear ya bout crapping out. I use to breed pitbulls years ago and I crapped out alot lol. I tried the selective breeding method which is probably like doing hets.
Sometimes i got the color patterns I wanted and sometimes it was a bust. It sucks when the stud fee is $500 and you dont get what you wanted color/pattern wise.

I am ready to strike out with the snake breeding lol. I know it's all genetics and you are at mother natures will when breeding het x het