Following on from this thread: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=96724
The correct sequence for Sacrifice of Pawns is: A. Announce that you wish to use the ability on Sacrifice of Pawns B. Choose your performer C. Target the other Personality - Ancestral Protection is played here D. Destroy the performer as a cost E. The other player makes his choice, and either his Personality is destroyed or the Dynasty deck is searched - these are the effects that are negated by Ancestral Protection F. End
Costs can only be chosen not to be paid if the cost is dependent on a target, and the target is changed from what was originally chosen. This does not happen in this case, so you may not choose not to destroy the performer.
Could you clarify here whether you mean:
A. You may choose not to pay the cost of destroying your personality if your opponent reacts with any effect that changes the target you originally selected for the effects (such as using Chugo Seido).
or
B. You may choose not to pay the cost of destroying your personality *only* if your original personality you selected to destroy to pay the cost is no longer a legal target - for example if the Samurai selected to pay the costs of Costly Opportunity became bowed by a Reaction.