I'm glad you at least gave him some great warmth and love before he had to depart.
I'm sure you made a very happy rooster out of him while he was with you.
If you're looking for just a nice pet, it shouldn't be too hard to find one. Polish are always around. If you're looking for something with nice feathering, perhaps look at offspring from breeders and not hatcheries. If you're just looking for that nice friendly I-don't-care-what-you-look-like roo, hatcheries are fine. All birds will be clean if you keep them clean. It's just messed up lacing or other unfavorable features that are the downside to hatchery birds.
As for what to look for in a nice rooster, that gets tougher. Sometimes they can be friendly when you go to check 'em out, but the next day after you bring them home, they give you a run for your money. I've had less problems with roosters who have been picked on. Docile ones. That way, they don't get greedy-or are at least less likely to-when you take them out of their bullied situation. Greedy, as in, hen-stealing and dominating.
I've heard stories of Polish roos with a mean streak, though, so just look for the worst signs to rule out no-nos. Like super-aggressive pecking (the occasional peck isn't so horrible-it's just a measure of curiosity, not so much a challenge), raised hackles (that's always trouble), stink-eye (sometimes roosters will eye someone they don't trust), hen-protective (getting a hen-grubbing bird is just asking for trouble), anything else that looks fishy. But simply, go with your gut.