I agree with mite about how much everybody benefits from the work of trialers. I have also had an opportunity to hunt on a perserve for a youth hunt a few years ago, and maskell is right. They do act like any wild bird, but i think this has a lot to do on how big the flight pen is that they were raised in, because I have heard stories of pen raised birds not flying as well. At the moment, I have about 100 pen raised quail that I have to trian my puppy and a friend of mines pup.
Then again, I agree with Jumpshootin, but not the extreme of calling it a bastardization. I go to some of the trials around here and the guys around here do it for their dog. They aren't in it for the money. It is also a lot of fun to watch their dogs work, but I always find joy in that.