Of course it has to do more with our perception, and your perception directly affects how you perform mentally which is more important than actually shooting the ball. If you can't think well enough to know where to hit the ball then nothings going to help you. But if you can make the balls just fine, then your comfort is the second key to winning/success because it directly can put you in the wrong frame of mind.
FACT - human beings are naturally negative creatures, we all wait for when the worlds going to end instead of enjoying life. No matter who you are uncomfortable or bad equipment will have a negative effect on your game its our nature, we have been prone to this for thousands of years and we most likely will be forever. Don't just try and be tough and stick with a cue that you always wished you'd never even bought, put it on fleabay and get a new one.
The thing about a cue, is you need to be comfortable with what your shooting with. That's why when someone finds the "RIGHT" cue for them they will stick with it forever if they are smart. All cues play different, some hit crisper, some hit soft, some draw well some can jump easier etc...if you know your cue then its comforting b/c you know exactly what you can do with that cue. This sport is so hard, and the most important thing to becoming a truely solid player after you learn the basics, is the mental level you can hold yourself to. So being that the mental level is so important, then having any questions about your #1 tool capabilities or whatever is wont be to your benefit.
If its straight and your comfortable with it then its exactly what you need. Go through cues untill you find the one thats right for you, once you have it keep it cherish it, if your used to shooting with a really stiff hitting cue then your gonna be struggling with a meucci, don't just jump into a new cue every 6months because your games not getting better. Get a new cue if you feel you need something different no matter what kind it is. A good example would be someone at the bar selling you their meucci, if you said a year later man I think I'm going to go grab a Scruggs Sneaky pete for 500 bucks, I say do it. It's a more capable tool, and would actually hold its value at least.
Things to remember when you buy your playing cue
1) Looks come last place, I've hit with 5k$ cues that were dogs. And ugly cues that played top notch jam up. Just make sure the inlays or stickers are not falling off, and your good to go to step #2
2) Pick it up! When you hold that cue, if it feels funny in your hands then don't buy it. As in the handle is way too fat/skinny, maybe the taper of the shaft displeases you, or maybe its offbalanced more than you can stomach. Even too light or too heavy. It must feel comfortable to YOUR touch.
-If you hold a cue and you like how it feels then it can move to step #3
3)Roll whole cue put together, with the butt on the cloth and the joint falling just above the rail and laying on top (cue is at an angle). Roll the cue, if it was built on center and isn't warped then the tip will not wobble. You can roll a cue on the flat bed of the table and it can look PERFECT, then roll it with the joint on the rail and the shaft jumps all over. This is the best test to see if a cue is good and straight through and through, unless you put it on a lathe but not everyone has that so use the rail.
Your cue's straight as can be continue to step #4
4) Hold the full cue and pop it with your palm on the joint, watch the cue resonate. If you like a stiff hitting powerful cue then you don't want a cue that wobbles like a fish, if you like a soft hitting cue then you are looking for a little more action on the ends of the vibrating cue. The higher the nodal point on the shaft is (place where it does not vibrate) the stiffer the cue, the lower it is the softer/deader the cues going to play. And everything else in b/t
Ok so you like stiff cues and this one doesn't fish flop so move to step #5
5) Hit some balls with it, stop shots, draw, see how it shoots with a good amount of english, hit some banks too(what a cue can do makes a diff when your playing banks and how you hit the shot). But basically its just like rule # 2 if it doesn't feel comfortable, if you don't like the hit so much, if it doesn't jive with your inner child then put it back and start over.
One thing to remember deals with mostly production cues, being that many use bolts to adjust the weight, the same exact models of cues will hit diff/feel diff than each other when they are not the same weight. Pick up the 19oz and it plays great, pick up the 20 and its no good. So just because you tried that McDermott and liked the one you tried at an 18oz, so they ordered you the 20oz like you usually use, jokes on us b/c well its not going to play the same, just an extra ounce or so forward or back can make a cue feel horrible.
I also recommend that you very much take care of your cue, keep it clean. Don't leave it in the trunk or back seat of the car. When the new shaft starts to feel dingy don't use scotchbrite, don't use a magic eraser, go to the bathroom and get 2 paper towels, make one damp and keep the other dry. Buff the damp rag/towel, buff quick and fast up and down for maybe 10-15 sec it doesn't take long. Then immediately take the DRY rag/towel and buff it till it gets HOT and bam your shaft is gonna be slick and smooth again. If your shaft stays nick and dent free, this is the easiest and best way to keep the shaft staying nice and smooth. The oil from your hands and your dead skin, and if you use hand chalk, are what makes the shaft sticky. Do it every time you save up your cue after a session, and it will play like new next time you take it out the box.
Treat that cue like its your baby b/c without a cue you can't shoot, so if your planning on shooting then protect that cue, and it will become part of your arm. Like anything else peace of mind is a big key, bottom line is no matter what anyone says if you are having issues with your equipment its going to distract you. It will affect your concentration and decision making at the table, when the only thing you were supposed to be thinking about was the pattern to run out.
Koo koo for pool kues,
Grey Ghost
,along with position,kicking and safety errors,Kim missed 12 balls,with similar stats in other areas. Their TPA scores were below .800,playing that speed gets you BEAT about 85% of the time in world-class events,period. 
