I know many of you will be disappointed but, after a lot of debating logically back and forth, an emotional moment finally pushed me over the edge to go ahead and buy the senegal at the store that I work at and am so bonded to.
A woman came in, she'd been in 3 or 4 times looking at the sun conure, and just bought it. I boxed him up for her and off she went, and I'm never going to see that bird again. He was a sweetheart of course, but not nearly as much of a companion as my senegal. If I had to box her up and give her to someone else, I'd be absolutely torn apart.
Some pros of getting the senegal:
She'll be in a 2'x2'x4' tall cage, rather than an 18"x18"x18"
She won't have children sticking their fingers in through cage bars or banging on the front of it.
She will get a healthier diet now that I can spend my own money on fresh fruits and veggies, rather than using a strict store budget that only allows a pellet/seed mix.
She will be more stimulated with a toy rotating system, rather than "leave it in there until it breaks. then get something else. or dont"
She will have more one on one time. Even though I see her frequently at work, it's not for quality bonding or taming time, just a quick hello and head rub through cage bars because I have to work.
She'll have all the different sized perches to keep her feet strong.
She'll have a more sterile water system than a wide open stainless steel dish.
She'll be with her human.
She won't have to keep her wings clipped.
Cons:
I do have two dogs which means her downstairs time with the family will be limited for safety reasons.
She will be spending six hours a day alone while I'm at work 4 days a week.
She will probably eventually become an apartment bird when I do move out of my parents' house in a few years. Never a dorm bird though.
She won't have as much routine as in the pet store, where feeding and cage cleaning time was the same time every day.
Anything to add? If there's one thing I hate on forums more than trolls who just want to stir up trouble, it's people who pretend they are the perfect bird owner. I realize buying a bird from a shop is not ideal but I think me taking her is the lesser of the two evils. I realize I am buying her just because I don't want to lose her to someone else which is a selfish reason to own a bird. I realize I am going against very sound advice of experienced bird owners who don't think I should own a parrot. But she's my bird and I love her