This would be the ONLY way I would even consider looking at a carbon shaft--and not because of the price, but I don't like black shafts...they just don't look right to me.
And this is speaking from someone who got to pick out his first cue when I was ~15 years old. The Earl Strickland Cuetec model had different designs and materials in this series. The one I thought looked so dope at the time was all black cue and shaft w/ a carbon fiber weave print all around--thought it looked so unique, as I've never seen that before.
That original Cuetec is now paired up to a wooden R360 and is a great cue, both in looks and performance.