As someone who owns and has owned many custom cues, I too feel like they are on the decline. I think there are several reasons for it. I think the price of these custom cues are outrageous. The 2nd and more important reason is that your average Cuetec or Predator cue hits as good or better than any custom cue. I don't say that lightly, but when my buddy let me try out his new Cynergy shaft I became a convert to carbon fiber. And you can put that Carbon fiber shaft on a $1K Cuetec or $5K custom cue and they will have the same hit and feel. As far as craftsmanship and aesthetics go, the custom cues will never be matched. They are amazing for what they are. But if you just value the playability of a cue the cheaper production cues with the nice carbon fiber shafts will play even better than the custom cues. And here's another very important consideration for me. I don't have the same nervousness of bringing a cheaper cue into a pool room or just leaving it in the back of the car like I would with a high end custom cue. I don't worry about someone stealing it, or worry about damaging it like I would with a more high end cue. There's something to be said for that.
