Papadave,
Your question is very valid, and I wish there was an easy answer for you. I've been around other types of dogs as well (mainly bird dogs) and I will tell you from my 15+ years of dealing with hog dogs that dog dealings seem very different in this sport than most others....and honestly I've never quite figured out why.
In most other dog disciplines, most times price can be in line with performance....hog dogs not so much so. For whatever reason, there is almost a taboo in this sport about people who frequently sell pups and it seems most who try and do so are looked down upon. Those who do sell a bunch (hence the well known names) tend to be those who are best at marketing.
If I may offer you any advice at all, it would be this. If I were in your shoes, I would spend a good deal of time on here reading and learning to decipher BS. Once you have in your mind a few folks who perhaps you feel may be the real deal, I would fire off a few PM's inquiring about pups. I personally breed very few pups and none with the specific purpose of selling, but when I do raise a litter and have extras I'm always tickled to get those into the hands of people who I feel will do right by the dog. There are many people on here who are not dog peddlers, and most likely feel the same as I.
DISCLAIMER- I have no pups for sale, nor any near future breedings planned so I'm not trying to hard sell you any dogs. Just my opinion, and what I would do is all.
