I'm not sure what you mean by if it is better with this stronger color. This rug is nice example, although Afghanistan rugs are not my specialty, I like this too. It's a very geometric rug with the squared off merhab, It's a nice choice I would say, I always like the wool foundation. Actually, the design is prayer rug with tree of life, more specifically a cypress tree, with the tall pillar in the middle. Colors look nice, although some of these rugs they tend to pop very loud and fluorescent. This does seem to be the commercial/newer quality of which I have seen similar rugs on ebay for example. Maybe somewhere in the vicinity of $100 - $400 depending on quality. Most I have seen on ebay were in the vicinity of $150 shipped. The one you have looks to be a little higher grade, and denser. I will post one when I see it. This kind of rug for quality really has to be touched to understand. There are many, many, many of this design out there.

I have always liked this rug design. In my parents home we used to have a similar one specially made to be a pillow on one side was a tight kilim and the other was this gorgeous rug with colors which had oxidized slightly.

I like the number 2 the best of this collection:
http://www.edisonphonos....resting-Baluch-Rugs.html

OK, I understand the comparison between colors with your Bokhara analogy. The colors of these newer rugs will never look like the ones from old unless there is an incredible amount of technique used to assess both an old rug, in addition to how new dyes react with raw wool. From my experience, these rugs never had predominantly bright red, although other colors would sometimes pop up such as a purple or something. You are smart to want to go with the timeless and traditional coloring. Which one you decide on is up to you, but I would personally go with the rug that has bolder colors which I am guessing would be the one with red. The only thing is that bolder colors like power colors of red and black, you tend to like in the moment, softer colors they tend to grow on you as the rug gets older. Do you know what I mean? Good luck!