Victorian Tuning, "usual" or "best"?

[A440A@AOL.COM]

Greetings, 
Bill writes: 
> The word *best* indicates that it is closer to ET and thus has less
>contrast or "color". 

A small quibble here, but it is my understanding that "best"  derives from the
"best" tuner at Broadwood in 1885. Owen's book,  (page 552 in 'Tuning') 

     The Victorian tunings are so close to ET that customers are usually
unaware of why they like the piano more.  It is only after demonstrating the
tonal range between B and C and C# that it comes clear.  As Bill said, it is
best to get them into some kind of tonality with the least amount of talk, and
let the musical values do the "heavy lifting" on their tastes. 
   What has been effective lately is simply describing the Victorian as equal
temperament that has been given a slight 'organic" twist to more accurately
reflect the prevalence of the simpler keys.  Most of my customers go for it on
faith, alone.  The beginning tech may not have the weight of reputation to
bulldoze the clientele, so more technical approaches may be better.  
   As always, if you are going to ask the customer to take a chance, you will
have to be willing to do likewise, and promise to change it back in a week if
they don't like the earlier tuning better.  This makes it easier for them to
"let go of the branch and swim downstream", and rarely do they want to return
to ET.   Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 
Regards. 
Ed Foote