I may be thinking of another member, but I thought @hbr did have a substantial history with another US store, perhaps CA? Perhaps she will see these tags and respond here (with corrections if my memory is faulty)The real answer is no US boutique will assuredly get you a B25 quickly and easily with little prespend these days. That being said, user @hbr just got a beautiful blue jean B25 in Austin Texas with reportedly only $3k spend so I guess I would say to go there!

IMO, that may make it easier when moving one’s custom to a second location within the US. The second store can be somewhat assured that one is a bona fide client and not likely to stop shopping after the first offer. And if one’s profile is strong enough, it can be a win going forward for all parties.
I have heard/read that new clients can have an easier time getting first bags. But I assume that there is something about their SA relationship or profile that suggests this would only be the start of a fruitful relationship. Ultimately, I do think relationship matters. And, for many of us, that translates into going to the store and buying things you love. If not, I would suggest that reseller bags, as the prices go down, would actually save money in the long term