Ultimatly the responsibility lies with the PH when making a call, if you would prefer to take a sub 54" make it clear and any well experienced professional hunter will be able to make a secure call.
On the inches.....Guys spent way to much time fussing over " what excactly if anything except SCI image makes a 24" impala so much better than a 23" or even a good mature well shaped 22". What is the measure or rather criteria of a good trophy, is it a set amount of inches? Or is it a cobination of inches, caracter, shape, mass and overall hunting experience that, makes it so. Go out have a good time any good outfitter will take pride in what he takes with you.
I fully understand that on a second trip especially after taking an impala and a good Kudu before that one might look for somthing bigger, make it clear and all should be good.
Some trophies might be better than others inches wise.. but thats hunting, there is simply from a conservation perspective as well as hunting perspective no amount of inches that can substitute a good mature trophy hunted sustainably.
Kudu sliding scale, must be honest dont see much wrong with it, especially with the plains game market being such a competative one with a ton of donations and guys dropping cheap packages like flies, one unfortunate truth is that most of the time you get what you pay for, I have a sliding scale $2100 and $2800 and thats the only one....... we take some very good Kudu, if compared to the average fully guided Elk hunt, I believe that Kudu are still reasonably priced "in global" terms even at $2800......, even big Eland bulls are as steal, just my spin on it.
Ultimatly once again the PH carries the responsibility and will make the call, I do believe that pitching up in Africa and having a list of set minimums is most probably not the best course of action, for one I have shot 52,5" Kudu bulls that outmeasure 55"'s on SCI just because they have 2.5 - 3" more mass, something to think about as well as length is not the only factor (in SCI), one thing you do know is that should you take a Rowland Ward entry trophy it will mo of the time be gold medal in SCI.
As far as course of action...on making a call of 58" and it ending up to be 54"..... is a mistake that the guide made... however I truly do not think that the PH can pay for it and if he does he keeps the trophy end of story, making it an inch or half inch issue... I would say would be a bit harsh.
My best always.