I got into it about the same time as you did,but thendecided on taking mature long beards only since 1992.Yes, it is an addiction!!
What makes a mature long beard other than just not being a jake? A 2 1/2 year old will likely weigh 21-22 lbs, have atleast an 8-9" beard, and 3/4-7/8" spurs (atleast in my area)....is that mature. I know a
very few people that will glass the birds as their strutting in and check out the spurs. Anything without true limb hangers will get the pass. Anything with will get shot. But who's to say a bird lacking the genetics isn't mature?!?!?