Hi,
You can start a colony with 1000 crix for sure. Breeding crickets is not a big deal if you have the right temperatures and the space for them. Provide them food, and vater and some layig bins. Good luck! :)
Looks like i am the only one who hasnt got problems with them :p I breed them at home, they are my dubia colony's neighbours with some crickets and other bugs (Alphitobius diaperinus - lesser mealworm). :D Abowe them there are the locusts :D
I wish i coud have som silks or/and hornworms too :D...
So, here is my opinion:
The illegal trade is what we dont want to support. Nobody should!
But the legal trade is legal, it can have benefits. For example, if you never have the possibility to go on excursions as a kid, you dont see the nature's wonders, you cant discover it, then you wont...