> Finally, I've given up trying to normalize colonies - they just revert 
> back to strong, medium, weak, regardless of what you do

Amen!  And you have an artificial situation that is an 'invisible' 
cofounding factor -- right before everyone's eyes!

The initial molestation has to have some effect IMO.

Besides, we are interested on real world colonies and their response.  Often 
the scatter in responses is as interesting as any observed central effect.

> Lay out your colony acceptance criteria before  starting the trial, then 
> rank all of the colonies, apportion them in equal  strengths, etc. to each 
> treatment.

Makes perfect sense to me. 

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