Just my opinion but I always find the appearance of Tascs wirh straight maple to be eye popping. The wood itself is as boring as it gets but it makes the veneers just jump out at you and really enhances the look of other elements. Plus straight maple is arguably a better quality of wood for a cue and playability. George greatly preferred it.
I agree. I also think quilted maple is a great choice being a tonal wood and pretty. I get people like birdseye, but each knot is a potential weakness. Likelihood of an issue is low though.