My 2 cents about custom cues vs hi end production cues
I have a small collection of cues, some are custom, some are production.
I find that a lot of custom cue makers make really nice looking cues but their hit is not that great, definitely not something that is worth what they cost. I find that a lot of custom cue makers don't have the equipment or the ability to finish the cue well enough or stabilize the wood well enough. I've seen more custom cues warp (butt section) than hi end production cues.
In my collection, most of the custom cues suffer from a wobble, slight or significant due to warped butt. Some suffer from poor finish quality, one even has a loose joint pin.
I take really good care of my cues, they are stored well. they have not been abuse and rarely played with.
I have non of these issues with my hi end production cues.
So, go custom if you collect cues just for their looks, go custom if you really can't find what you want in a hi end production cue or even mid range production (they are really much better than what they have used to be). Go custom if you know the maker and his process and his ability.
Some of today's production cues (well it's been around for a while now) introduce methods to strengthen the butt like splicing the butt, or coring it all the way, or reinforce the construction with composite materials or even not using wood at all... and of course there is the shaft, if you want CF, almost all production companies offer that options.
Of course that there are great cue makers that make great playing cues that hit a ton and could last a lifetime (I have a couple of those as well), but so many of them don't, a lot of the new makers haven't been around that long to prove their durability, so they may play great now, but can't tell how it'll be in 10-20 years.
So, if I was in the market today for a new pool cue, I would go the production route before the custom route. I would stay away from any cue, custom or production that use a propriety joint that would be a pain in the butt (pun intended) to match to different shafts.