[Totty]

I agree, grafted plants are just too expensive to consider growing. But that does not mean there is no point growing them from seed.
Keep trying new varietys and changing the environment they are growing in until something works.

Go for a modern, small fruited F1, put it in a greenhouse with high humidity, smallish pot, regular feed.

Totty

[R6robbo]

I grew them (Black Beauty) for the first time this year, 2 in large pots in the poly
and 2 outside in a raised bed. All produced decent sized aubergines but the outside ones
produced more of and bigger ones. ( 7-8 each plant, about size of a medium/large orange.)
Give em a try if you have the space, what have you got to lose?

[lazza]

I've found that the flowers are very pretty....... but nothing more!