Well yes... Any base inquiries on the subject will yield such results...We've all heard it.
Everyone always says it... but never tried very long..
So we're hear to discuss...
Those same folks spray nay-says all over rubrums and platenoides, too. And I've personally gained much reduction in both these species with very little effort.
The leaves on "Non-worked Palmatums" are pretty big too... and it takes more than just a season or two to get satisfying reduction goals... and people will work with them.. because they "know" they will reduce down..
But how would one "know" that?... having worked with palmatums for a while, yes?
Maybe there are facets about North American trees and North American Climates that we do not understand.. because they are never pursued longer than "a season or two"...
Maybe North American Plants and Climates need to be assessed and considered differently than if one were in Japan.
I grow predominantly Rubrum, Freemani and platenoides when it comes to endemic Acers..
I have, PERSONALLY, found Sugar Maples to respond slow, if at all, to Bonsai Techniques...
But who am I to say someone won't blow my mind with an awesome specimen.. and detail a schedule of procedural interference, previously untried.
These "Specie Study" threads are for this very purpose...
Chances are.. MOST people who will post here... have already heard "No.. not "x" tree for bonsai!" MANY times...
We are HERE to PROVE.... "Why"... or "Why Not?"
We Could use your help. (for relevant information-gathering's sake, we ARE here to learn and discuss, after all)
Have you ever tried to grow these? (your sugar or silver maples)
What techniques did you use that DIDN'T work.. and made you abandon them? (your sugar or silver maples)
Given we've also been studying the implications and sunlight variances of "understory trees" in Northern America... what substrate and daylight schedule did you attempt them at?... (your sugar or silver maples)
Did you attempt to work with them more than 2 seasons? (your sugar or silver maples)
Did you purchase, collect, or grow from seed? (your sugar or silver maples)
Germination natural?..or indoors? ((if seed) for your sugar or silver maples)
...
Personally (in this sugar/silver maple vein), I worked with a sugar for ALMOST two years.. before it was rabbit-eaten.
I did not, personally get the results I WANTED... but "almost two years" could NEVER be enough time to tell.
(I also have a couple Silver stock from last year that I'm excited to test the parameters of)