You know folks it's not about the wait. Some restaurants have a two year waiting list as well to get in. It's not a big deal, if you want to get on the list then you do, and you wait. No one on the list is cue-less and the cue they ordered can be sold the same day for the price they paid if they want to sell it. No, it can EASILY be sold for a little mark up even before they get it.
In fact this is probably the major reason there is an 11 year wait. If Laurie would require a deposit on order or even payment in full the "list" would shrink considerably. Why wouldn't anyone place orders if they knew they didn't have to get the money up now and that if they are still around when their number comes up they can decide then if they still want it? For the buyer this is a ZERO risk proposition. If they don't have the money or don't want the cue then there are always people willing to buy the spot at a profit to the person who holds it.
Put an ad out there that you are willing to spend x% over the new price for a spot this year and see what happens. This is not a new thing and no one has to wait 11 years. But cutting in line will cost you just like cutting in line for anything else costs you.
As to whether they are "worth" it or not that's certainly a personal preference thing. I happen to feel that SouthWest cues play very well. Would I pay $2000+ for a plain cue though? No, I won't. Sorry but I don't feel that the cue is worth it. I respect the right of anyone and everyone charging whatever the market will bear for the cue and to some people SouthWest cues are a bargain at twice the price. Technically there is nothing wrong with them and I think that the hit is very sweet.
But again being on the list is just a thing. I was on the list, I got my cue ten years later, it was awesome, I sold it the same day. I wish I hadn't because it would be nice to own one that I got direct from Laurie but I told Joe Salazar about it and he bugged me and money was tight and I caved. But it certainly wasn't the nicest cue I owned and it wasn't the best hitting one either, based on my own personal feeling.
They are great cues. They have a mystique. The "list" and ten year wait is kind of silly though due to the market dynamics. It doesn't exist because of people standing in line ready to spend money right now for a cue. It exists because people can get on it with zero risk and the cues are easy to flip.
IMO.