Yeah the length of time to mature is a big factor with citrus. So that is a huge factor besides variation. I would grow pecans, peaches etc from seed purely because they charge way too much for a tree. Even if the seed had slightly less desirable traits it's better than paying $100 for a stick.
With citrus you may be referring to a ban on selling citrus. All the stuff sold has been treated for disease and is clean. Also illigal to import or export citrus from the state but kind of pointless nothing has stopped the spread of disease.
I'd like some dwarf Meyer seeds. Those sound interesting. Seeds can be imported.
Time to maturity is the only factor that would preclude me from raising sweet citrus from seed. That, or if they're some of the varieties i've mentioned that indeed do not grow true from seed.
As to the illegality of non-nursery propagated citrus trees, here's the 2022 Florida Statutes definition that makes it illegal.
"581.1843 (2) Effective January 1, 2007, it is unlawful for any person to propagate for sale or movement any citrus nursery stock that was not propagated or grown on a site and within a protective structure approved by the department and that is not at least 1 mile away from commercial citrus groves. A citrus nursery registered with the department prior to April 1, 2006, shall not be required to comply with the 1-mile setback from commercial citrus groves while continuously operating at the same location for which it was registered. However, the nursery shall be required to propagate citrus within a protective structure approved by the department. Effective January 1, 2008, it shall be unlawful to distribute any citrus nursery stock that was not produced in a protective structure approved by the department."
In other words, if you're propagating your citrus at home or at a non-inspected and approved facility with the structures in place to protect the stock, it's actually illegal.
As to growing true from seed, a quote from Dr. Carl Campbell (U.F.) from an interview in 1983: " I checked with Dr. Carl Campbell at the University of Florida Extension research center. Carl has given me many in-depth, insightful answers to tropical fruit questions sent by several of our readers. He said that a great number of citrus trees will come true from seed. There is a way you can tell by examining a few seeds from the tree. Peel off the outer and inner seed coat. If the seed is polyembryonic, i.e. has many embryos, it will come true. I asked what it would look like if it were polyembryonic. Carl said that the various embryos would be convoluted upon each other. If it is mono-embryonic there will be one embryo with two distinct cotyledons. Almost any sweet orange will come true from seed, as well as key limes, grapefruit, tangerine and tangelo. Two varieties that will not come true from seed are temple and pomelo."
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