I think the desert combos are gorgeous, and I hope to maybe work with the gene some day ... However, there are a couple of factors that make me nervous about the potential female infertility issue.

Foremost is the fact that, from the handful of accounts I've read, it seems that females tend to get eggbound and are at an increased risk of pregnancy complications rather than just being infertile. (If this is incorrect, I'd love to be corrected.) I could see this as a potential animal welfare issue if desert females fall into the hands of those who don't realize their reproductive problems, or don't realize the extent, and breed the female, putting her life at risk.

The other issue does center around that of combo desert females. I saw some 5-gene female for sale for a few grand, and desert was one of those genes. It occurred to me that if you breed a multi-gene male to any female, and hit on a 6-gene female who happens to carry desert, the desert gene would effectively "ruin" that female for your breeding program. That could get really upsetting if she was an otherwise stellar animal with that much genetic potential!

So, I dunno. There are some gorgeous desert morphs out there, and I most likely would use a desert combo male in my breeding program ... But the female issue is pretty problematic IMO.