Assalamu alaikum, Brother, I have found that there two madhabs where it is difficult to find the mu'tamad - that is Hanbali and Maliki. There are different flavours of scholars in these madhabs and each claim to to be expressing the mu'tamad opinion. For example there great differences between Moroccan and Mauritanian Malikis. There are also big differences between Syrian and Saudi Hanbalis. In both these madhabs on group will say beard cannot be trimmed and another will say beard can be trimmed. Whereas in the Hanafi and Shafi' the mu'tamad is known by all scholars in most (not all) matters - i.e. there is more or less agreement. And if a scholar gives a different opinion they know they are digressing from the mu'tamad.