Well, this has flared some tempers for sure.
Ethically, I can see absolutely nothing wrong with shooting birds on a preserve. They were raised to eat, and you are just bringing them to the table.
As far as fun, and challenge, I have found that quail on preserves are not remotely similar to wild birds, and my three hunts for these at different preserves have all left me feeling ripped off. At one of them, the birds wouldn't flush until the "guide" actually walked into the little brewd and starting kicking them!
Pheasant are a different story. Yes, I know that they are not as wilely and challenging as wild birds. But, they are still a challenge, and a big surprise when they go up, and lots and lots of them get missed by the shooters. I don't feel cheated after a hunt for preserve pheasant, and I love bringing home a few big birds.
The sad fact of the matter is, that for the vast majority of people who would like to hunt pheasant, they have no choice. They can't afford the travel expense plus $500 a day to shoot at a good place out west, and the places in the east where there are good birds and available hunting lands are few and far between.
My advice, if you want to shoot at a preserve, is to find the largest operation you can, even if you have to drive for several hours, and hunt pheasant only. Don't have more than 3 shooters total in your party. It can get a little crowded and dangerous when those birds flush close, and a guide is also standing around.
Mannyrock