You folks don't really know me that well as I haven't been posting here long, but from what I've noticed since I started in this hobby is I think for the most part, the aquarium hobby community is doing what they can about conservation of our ocean life. Every aquarium book, and just about every magazine article, in some way or another makes a point of addressing conservation issues. We let it be known that Mimics and Wunderpus' shouldn't be purchased because of the past experiences and lack of information, this could eventually have a positive effect on the trade, much more so than no advice at all.
These things are some of the oldest species on Earth, and being they are in the ocean, which human kind knows relatively VERY LITTLE about, I think they are pretty well protected. Of course this is only my observation, based on what I've read on the WWW, books, and seen on Animal Planet, Discovery, etc. I could be wrong. When I started this hobby a friend of mine said "You know what you should get? An Octopus!" and I immediately searched the web for captive keeping Octopi. I had no idea it was possible. I found this site, I found other sites. And here I am two years later finally owning one, praying I do it as much justice as I intended to when I started researching two years ago. We are doing what we can. You people are doing a great job. I try to share as much solid information as I can with other people when they show interest in this hobby. Don't change a thing, other than, as mentioned.... get a captive-bred program going. I wish I could myself. That's my dream. One of these days perhaps.
Liveaquaria.com lists Aquacultured Cuttlefish and Octopus on their site. They also have a "No guarantee" statement to go with them that I see as a pretty good way of deterring unfit people from ordering them. I sure wouldn't spend the money after reading that it's better to go to an expert or even a zoo, if I didn't have the confidence from my experience.
Man is his own worst enemy. I see a lot of Hummers driving around. They get HORRIBLE gas mileage, plus I'm sure insurance and car payments on those things are ridiculously excessive. This is something that drives me insane. Look at it one way, Hey, they're doing us a favor. Burning up gas faster so we'll have to find better, more efficient resources sooner. Catch 22. You can't ban Hummers I guess. I drive a Honda Civic, it gets almost 40 miles a gallon, and in that I feel I'm doing the world a small favor.