And in case you think that other tamers are stupid for not trying to make their spirit beasts gain interest in the same things as them, it doesn't work that way, it can't be forced, that's why the ancient method was overshadowed by the modern one, the only natural way to have a spirit beast gain interests compatible with the tamer, was to raise it since birth basically.
To begin with, Espi is quite the unique case, she was completely self aware since she came out of the egg, and that has nothing to do with her being a dragon, there are indeed spirit beasts who have use of reason since birth, however that's because they are born with a high realm by innate.
