I guess I need to make a correction.
When you are basing your travel decisions on the name of an old dead guy, you get to make the decision based on the sum total of their work and everything you know about them. Individual courses may vary and DO vary but there is still an overall view.
The problem with relying on the name of a living designer [and paying the market price] is that you have to rely on them continuing to build the same sort of quality projects that earned them their status to begin with. And it's clear from recent history that many "names" get too big, get spread too thin, and the quality of their work goes downhill once they start making the big bucks. Their business managers are too busy raking in the cash.
Andrew [presumably not the son of Peter]: I can tell you that my "name" was worth very little based on my books ... my design fee has gone way up only in the last three years.
James [presumably son of Tony]: Your dad has done some fine work and has lots of fans; that isn't going to change Andrew's list of favorites, so don't take it personally. It wasn't so long ago I had to make the same arguments you are making in order to get work, so I understand where you're coming from. Just don't lump me in with some of the other names down there. I don't work down there often, but when I do, I work as hard as anybody.