I personally LOVE "tribute cues". I think Chris has a point about the difference between a tribute and a copy. A tribute is made in the style or fashion of a master cuemaker who has passed on to that big lathe in the sky, while a copy is made when the maker is living.
One of the things people tend to forget is that, while it would be great to just wait until you could afford that $50,000 Bushka...there aren't too many floating around the market these days, and I damned sure can't afford one if it was dropped in my lap!
Because I can find makers that will work with me, I might not ever own an original, but I can come pretty close. I currently have a fancy Kleinbushka, an ebony Rambozauhn Titlist, and a Owenboti (Bob not Gabe). I'm not trying to sell fakes, I just want something representative of the style of cue that I grew up with. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford a fancy Bushka when I was a kid, and I still can't, but I have a player Kleinbushka that is so close that you would have a hard time telling the difference.
How many folks would really like to have a Shelby end up driving a Mustang with Shelby like looks? Maybe own a Chrysler 300 because they really like a Viper and can't find or afford one? I love the looks of a '59 Cadillac, and if I could find someone that could make me a reasonable copy for a tenth of the price of an original, I'd be on it faster than Oprah on a cupcake!
In most industries, as soon as a product or design comes out, there are companies that immediately use it. A lot of these ideas and products are patentable, and a little change here and there and a "new" product is in direct competition.
There are logical reasons for not re-inventing the wheel with every cue made. When the transistor or microchip was made, should the inventor been the only one allowed to use it?
Creativity isn't something that can be scheduled. If a cuemaker spent all day waiting for divine inspiration for new designs, they wouldn't get much work done, would they?
Let's face it, cuemakers do have clientele that have a few ideas of their own, too. Would you think about having a custom boot maker make you a pair of high dollar boots in whatever color and style that he saw fit? I'm sure you'd want his input as a professional, but are you really going to wear that artistic pair of flourescent orange and turquoise boots that he's been waiting to produce since he dreamed them up?
Artists have always copied the styles of others. We actually had "artistic periods" throughout history. I visited Rembrandt's museum when I was younger, and the Flemish artists went to schools to learn various styles of painting. Lots of the paintings looked very similiar, but to the discerning eye, you can tell the subtle differences. When Van Gogh first started painting, he did the same style of work that all the other Dutch artists of the time period did. He only did the work we know him by after he started veering away from the "norm" due to mental instability/lead poisoning.
My dad was an inventor that had several patents. His designs were ripped off on several occasions and it never seemed to bother him. His logic was that if you're truly the first with an idea, and do a good job with getting that idea out to the public, then you will be the one with the brand recognition (i.e. Coke, Kleenex, etc.).
Unless trickery or deceit is involved with the sales of tribute cues, I see absolutely no problem with them...
Steve
-A satisfied owner of tribute cues-
Some really pretty wood, and I'm sure VERY WELL made cue for under $1K. 
