Are there a lot of high-priced morphs going to breeders? Of course! Are there a lot of high-priced morphs going to strictly pet-owners? Not as much...

Why?

Because, if you look at the statistics - there's a lot less people owning ball pythons who don't have plans to breed. A good number of ball python owners are breeders. Doesn't mean they don't treat the ball python as a pet.

So, what exactly is the question? That only breeders buy high-end morphs? Not really. Because, majority of the Joe Schmoes don't like snakes. The ones that do like snakes and can afford to buy one - do. Like Nicolas Cage, for example - he used to have some pretty expensive cobras until his neighbor sued him for endangerment to the community, so he had to give the snakes to the zoo.