We could probably differentiate bonsai customers into different markets:
1) The "impulse buyer" who sees a bonsai somewhere (anywhere) and decides then and there to buy it, with no idea of care, etc. They often start with a mallsai. In some cases they progress to another level in the hobby, but for the vast majority their entire experience is one or maybe two trees at this level. Most trees die shortly after being purchased.
2) The "beginner" who enters the industry and has a curious and inquisitive mind. They read books, seek out information, and start to learn enough about bonsai that they can keep trees alive. They may seek out less expensive trees online, visit bonsai nurseries, etc. They do not have the skill necessary to maintain difficult trees like pines, and may become discouraged and leave the hobby because they cannot achieve the success they see in bonsai books and magazines.
3) The "hobbyist" who makes the big leap and starts taking bonsai classes and potentially joins a bonsai society. They realize that 99% of the time spent in stages (1) and (2) above was wasted. They start obtaining and training better quality trees, including some that might be show quality. With success, they buy more difficult and expensive trees, and start to make the switch from lots of cheap trees to few expensive trees.
4) The "enthusiast" who spends a lot of time at stage (3) and goes one step further. They seek out training / instruction from numerous sources. They own a library of books and subscribe to magazines. They can refer to back-issue articles. They understand and utilize advanced bonsai techniques, including a fair amount of propogation. They start supplementing their collection of lots of expensive trees with lots of cheap trees that they are trying to "grow out" quickly. Their backyard looks like a small bonsai center.
5) The "professional" who spends time at stage (4) and decides that they might actually be able to make a living at their hobby. For the fortunate few, they actually can. For the unfortunate majority, they struggle with the fact that the MAJORITY of the market for bonsai in the U.S. are the stage (1) and stage (2) people above who do not require, nor appreciate, stage 4 material.
Most stage 3+ people understand that bonsai quality and bonsai development time are often directly correlated. To get quality fast you have to pay a premium. So most people try to find that "sweet spot" where for them the quality/time tradeoff is acceptable. The same person that might buy a $1000 show quality tree could balk at paying $150 for a higher potential, but less finished, bonsai. Likewise there are fools out there (myself included) that find some perverse pleasure in growing bonsai from seed. However show me the right tree at the right price, and my checkbook comes out
Unfortunately, I think there are too few of the stage 3+ people out there. If I were to ever start a bonsai business I would spend a lot of time trying to find the stage 2 people and growing them to stage 3.