i think the grain pattern of the reed is important.a good reed shouldn`t have discontinued grain pattern from the tip to the bark of the reed.density of the reed cane is also important as when the cane is season and how long does it season before it is being cut to make reed.(commercial make reed now grow their cane alround half a year and they will ut the cane for making their reeds.while in older days...they will grow the cane for at least 3 years)
maintaining a reed is also important factor of clarinet playing ,eg.reed warp,reed surface thicken because of saliva`s unsatuarated fats dried on it,and breaking in the reeds evenly but soak using correct method. and of couse many more....

i have personally found that reed with crazy designs on the bottom are the best. i mean, the more brown the better. but it also depends on the "semi-circle" right above the smooth part. if both sides of the "semi-circle" are even, then it`s a good reed. and also, try to avoid reeds that have a straight line and no circle there. typically, they are hard to play on. if you know how to, you can "fix" your own reed with a little sand paper if the semi-circle is uneven, but you will have to get someone to show you how to fix reeds because if it is done incorrectly, you will mess up your reed indefinately. also, there is a certain type of extremely fine sand paper you must use.

as long as it`s vandoren and not rico,
nothing matters anymore

has anyone tried Zonda yet? I heard they make you sound better than Vandoren...

it`s true that the reeds with brown strips, dots, are really better than reeds that don`t
really!