I think it is because there are different clients with different motivations. And crocodiles aren't the only quarry that fit that description. I think
@ActionBob has it correct. If he will allow me a little more extrapolation, I think we are talking about three different clients. It is likely we can all be one of the three depending upon species, budget, or our due diligence.
Let's stay with crocodiles for a moment. There are indeed clients who are perfectly happy to pot a 14' animal during their stay at a lovely lodge somewhere in commercial power supplied South Africa. An outfitter with a suitable impoundment would be foolish not to offer such opportunities. As long as the client and outfitter or honest with one another, no problem. The client might have to pardon folks like me who likely would be underwhelmed by the tale of the hunt, but that is a different set of issues.
The second client is the one who doesn't yet know any better. He grew up reading Ruark, Hunter and Hemingway and in his heart of hearts at least hopes to see the shade of the Serengeti when he arrives in the Limpopo, Eastern Cape, or Namibia. Usually the exotic animals, professional guide with the exotic accent, and replica East African tent camp (though with ensuite shower and facilities) is sufficient to keep the illusion going. When I was that client, I was fortunately in the very professional hands of Nick Nolte and Dirk de Bod. Any outfitter who takes advantage of such exuberant naivete deserves a bit of exposure.
The third is the client who has been bamboozled. In my case it was the eland, buffalo, sable safari in the Caprivi where the allotted sable had been dead three weeks before my arrival. It really didn't make that much of a difference, but knowing it ahead of time would have made the likelihood of a return safari with that outfitter far more likely. The positive was that my personal due diligence has become far more thorough.
We can substitute sable, lechwe, lion, etc etc into the formula, and I suspect most of us bounce a bit from profile to profile. For me a contrived lion, croc, or hippo are all the same thing. Not interested and not really interested in hearing about it. Yet, I have been perfectly happy hunting antelope among captive breeding populations. My personal hypocrisy is unapologetically selective.
The one general trend that I think I have noticed among African hunters is that the more they pursue game on the the continent, the more important the real rather than contrived experience becomes - even if it means more savings and fewer hunts.
