In any field of research covering a lot of unfamiliar ground is what's really interesting, to my mind.
My father who researched inventions and industrial history used to say that seemingly useless information is worth more than following along all the usual routes, because it is from hitherto unrelated facts that new discoveries are made, (although he may have had a better way of expressing it!).
In the field of beads, a lot is already known about some beads, especially those which are highly valued, while there are others that may not even yet be deemed worthy of any research. They are generally very inexpensive in the marketplace as well for the same reason.

Stefany