I do not tend to lean one way or another when it comes to tops for my clients, yes, I have tops that I love and would put in my home, but for every client there are different expectations of duties that they wish their tops to perform. Granite is a beautiful addition to any home, not necessarily more or less beautiful than any other top, but one that because of it's uniqueness and beauty, requires a bit more work on the part of the consumer. Namely, and most importantly, the fact that you should really go choose your slab. Granite, even in the most consistent colors, is, by nature, inconsistent. It should also be noted that if you are choosing granite off of a sample (especially those that are less that 1'x1') then you are asking for their to be heartburn later.
Yes, there are times when choosing your granite is not an option (most frequently when you are purchasing vanity tops or something else that does not require even close to a full slab, and therefore you are getting a discounted price since the fabricator is using remnants), however, in most cases, in fact-in almost all cases, you, as a consumer, should ask if the choice of slabs is an option and insist on it.
Now, when you go to your granite yards, I also recommend that you find a way for your designer to go with you. I will almost always go with my clients to choose their slabs for several different reasons: 1) There is a bond that is formed between a designer and their clients and I think that it is important, as a designer, to be there for any questions that may arise, sometimes it's purely for moral support and affirmation that what a client is choosing will look good with their tops; and 2) because I know which countertop I have priced for a client and I can help ensure that if they fall in love with another granite I am there, on hand, to let them know that the price may be significantly higher than what they were originally quoted and can help ease the sticker shock, or help prevent a client from falling in love with something that is simply too far out of their budget. (There are stones that are in the multiple hundreds of dollars range per square foot and it is heartbreaking to hear stories of clients who fall in love with a stone that could cost them upwards of $10,000 more than they were quoted).
However, whether or not your designer goes with you, it is incredibly important to view the slab because you never know when a slab may have an anomaly that you are not prepared for, and if you allow someone else to just pick the next slab available for your tops, you may be in store for a very unpleasant surprise when the top is brought to your house! The picture included is something that I have not ever seen before in my 7 years of design work and I've been to a number of granite yards and seen thousands upon thousands of slabs.
