The smart kids will pick up Chinese pool (8ball and 9ball), there is good money in it and one can make a living just by getting to the last 32.
And it will only get bigger.
If the points are real splice (half of full) it changes the the feel and hit.
The splice was used to get better contact in times when the glues that was used wasn't that good.
Inlay point are just for looks trying to emulate the splice look.
Rings and inlays were used to adjust weight and...
you can get sharp points with CNC inlays. I don't get why they the big American brands use cheap machines that can't get the job done.
Bill McDaniel made sharp CNC points 30 years ago (if not before), you have Asian cheap cues that have sharp points (real inlay) like this Elite cue (I actually...
Don't buy cheap, you'll end up thinking that you are missing something (and you are and will) and eventually spend more on upgrading/changing/testing.... buy the best fro the start.
Get the Predator Revo shaft. I would go with the 12.9mm as it is closer in feel to a 314 shaft.
Non of the CF...
Same technique as any jump shot, just harder because of the heavier and longer cue and softer tip.
I sometimes use my break cue for jumping for a long distance jumps, I find it easier and more stable to stay on the shot line.