While the iemoto system enhanced the authority of the head family of the iemoto, because the role of the family head changed into the one ruling kagaku through issuing a license to the pupils, the family head also assumed the role in hiding the successor who was not competent even though some family heads themselves were not competent to the iemoto.
家元制度は家学宗家の権威を高める一方で家元である宗家当主は門人を免許の発給を通じて家学を支配していく役目に転化していったため、勿論家元に相応しい技能を有した宗家当主も存在したものの、それに相応しい能力を有しない継承者の隠蔽の役割も果たすことになった。