IMO, depends on the type of hit, feel, dia, and taper you like. I know some guys are pretty good at making their cues hit pretty close to each other, but Still IMO, the materials used, and wood selection are key to matching ones feel in a cue. I have shot with cues By the same maker, even basically the same materials, and one will still seem to give a little different feedback then the other. I have actually shot with $100 cues that felt better then a 1000 dollar cue to me, but that was me on a individual level. I am lucky enough to be able to make an mods I may need done Myself, and will more likely make them to the 100, then the 1000 cue.
I have not had the opertunity to shoot with all of the great names mentioned, but of what I have had the pleasure to hit with, the only cue I ever picked up, and instantly felt like I could do what ever I wanted with, without learning the cue first, was just a friends old schon with just basic ivory diamonds. The thing will do what ever I want It to, My father hit with It and said the same thing, but don't think we could get him to sell. Sometimes you can get lucky and just end up with a good one. this was a old one not the new.
I prefer steel joints Myself. I know of a pro from here, That shoots with steel joints as well, and he showed me one this past year sometime that dennis searing made him. Said He liked It, It is a very nice cue, and would probably also suite My feel due to It's design. I have also heard good things about him, and many others.
At one time I actually had 2 cues that were close to each other in design but different weights that worked for me. the heavier one played well on 7 and 8 footers with mostly commercial felt, and the lighter one played better on highspeed felt, tight pocket, 9 footers, so it actually helped me make the transision faster and easier between tables. I believe in that case the weights were the key to making the switch from one table to another.
I believe people require different feedback from their cue, therefore don't know how universal any given cue can be, altough have heard some can do It. For instance I built a cue with a composite joint. My first one, and Looked Like crap, but My father shoots very well with It, and another guy picked It up ran 2 racks before stopping, and never missing, and said you can't miss with It. yet altough I do like the feel of It, it hits hard for the material, and can shoot alright with It, It is not My style of hit, so I am building me a steel joint for Myself.
Basically IMO, I guess one hit will suite one group of people, as where another style will suite the other group. From there would be fine tuning to the individual.
