The inevitable spread in properties of the toroidal obscuration of active
galactic nuclei (AGNs) invalidates the widespread notion that type 1 and 2 AGNs
are intrinsically the same objects, drawn randomly from the distribution of
torus covering factors. Instead, AGNs are drawn \emph{preferentially} from this
distribution; type 2 are more likely drawn from the distribution higher end,
type 1 from its lower end. Type 2 AGNs have a higher IR luminosity, lower
narrow-line luminosity and a higher fraction of Compton thick X-ray obscuration
than type 1. Meaningful studies of unification statistics cannot be conducted
without first determining the intrinsic distribution function of torus covering
factors.Comment: ApJ Letters, to be published. This is the final, journal version;
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