The biggest difference between ball pythons and leos (as I understand it) is that ball python mutations are all actual mutations that tend to either appear or not (following dominant/recessive rules) while leopard geckos tend to be polygenic. It's fairly important to know your snakes genetics, but as already mentioned you can usually identify what you have pretty easily. When you cant, you breed to prove it out.
sellers generally won't sell something as a morph unless it's been proven out beyond doubt. Selling a snake as a morph that proves to just be a failed dinker can ruin your reputation and shatter and future transaction possibilities. this isn't to say that some people won't try to lie anyway, but that's when research as a buyer cones in. Never heard of it? Can't find it in a search? No references from the seller? No deal.
You got it right with the stud bit. Males are generally cheaper than females as well as able to breed more often, so you want a quality male to put to your girls.
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