As someone who breeds both Marans and Ameraucanas, I\'d like to wade in on this topic. My focus for my Marans is egg color. I am not concerned about type at this stage, as egg color is all for me with Marans. Once we get egg color right (and given where the French are I think it will take a long time), then I feel we can focus on type. Of course, those who are working to get Marans accepted into the Standard disagree with this, but each of us makes our own choices there.
Now, when it comes to my Ameraucanas, for me the focus is breeding to the Standard. Egg color is all very well and good, but I do show my birds and as such work to get them/keep them as close to the Standard as I can. Egg color can come later for them, as far as I am concerned.
Two different breeds, two different focuses, at least for me...