Any difference in play beyond fine adjustment/tuning is always on the player.
I can play with pretty much anything you put in my hand. Ive never been one to get get sentimental over cues. Cues are pieces of sporting goods first and foremost. Decoration not withstanding.
I personally cant stand bars. My tolerance for drunks is nil, and screaming drunks fall even lower on the list. So, my point was having a cue that you arent as worried about getting damaged, lost, stolen etc.
Most drunks don't come find you, you usually have to go where they are.
Are bars the only places they have to play pool there?
I have taken all my cues into bars, dives, pool hall, etc. over the last 50 years and never had one stolen, but I have had one knocked over. To me, that is one of the chances you have to take if you play pool. I usually keep a good eye on my stuff or have somebody I know watch it for me if I go to the restroom so nobody bothers it.
I consider pool cues as tools, so I never buy them with a lot of bling, unless someone makes me an offer I can't refuse.
I don't have a pool table at home, so I go to where the pool tables are...wherever that may be. I use whatever cue I like playing with the best. I don't have one cue that I save for "date night" at a fancy place and another that I take to a dive. If I'm that worried about my cue, I'll use a house cue.