For me, the short answer is the more recognizable players are going to play with their sponsor's cue/shafts and that just isn't going to be wood or traditional for the most part as production makers are making traditional cues less and less. Traditional makers like Schon, Joss, and the like don't sponsor big tournaments these days at least to my knowledge, so their visibility is less than Predator and Cuetec. Do they even sponsor players these days?
For the rest, carbon fiber offers several advantages over wood, so I feel like that's why many of the better players have switched. The advantages are certainly why I did. At this point, it's the old school folks that are playing with wood shafts for the most part. I probably played with a wood shaft for 20 years or more. If I play with wood now, it's likely because I picked up a butt that I don't have carbon for (looking at you 3/8x11). I have a couple really nice customs and an old school Schon that have great wood shafts, but I hardly ever play with wood anymore because I like playing with a Revo.
Younger folks also see Filler, Gorst and the like shooting with non-traditional cues and carbon fiber and that's what they will want. Additionally, that's what going to be in a lot of brick-and-mortar stores that deal in production cues as well. Cost plays into the decision. To get a traditional cue that has great looking woods is simply more expensive, possibly prohibitively, these days when you can pick up a Lucky or Valhalla for $150. Look at Predator - 5-10 years ago you could get a good 8 point sneaky with really nice wood for like $400. Now, they are painted and like $800 for an 8 point.
