Ikon series uses 4 laminated pieces for the core or something like that, there is a demo on preadator site. My P2 has 10. I find that Predator butts are lively. Those are good cues.
If you like the butt of your cue than I would stick with it, if not then Ikon is as good as anything out there.
The most important things about the cue are weight, balance point, diameter of the butt, weight distribution etc.
Every person likes something different.
Custom cues look good and give you a feeling of having something unique.
However, most (not all) of those custom cues aren’t any better than average production cue if anything a lot of them are worse.
Cuetec would never be my choice and Lucasi seems like a knockoff of predator they are made in the same factory apparently and are very similar.
I have a Lucasi breaker and it is good. The playing cue is fine, not a big fun of their shafts.
The best part about predator are the shafts.
Just so you know I find it is more difficult to play with z^2 than 314^2, you need a good stroke for the z^2.
LD shafts are lighter than normal shafts keep that in mind too.
To me a shaft needs to be minimum 3.8 oz or it is just too light and you will see difference in hit for the worse.