Train,
Assuming that you are referring to a 2-piece cue, and keeping in mind that the question posed in the title of this thread relies purely upon subjectivity, I would have to say that the joint type/material has more to do with what makes a cue play a certain way (whether it's good or bad is solely dependent upon the opinion of any given user of such cue). It seems like I've hit with cues of similar construction/shaft types and the joint type/material being the only variable made the feel/feedback of the cues totally different.
Once again, it's all subjective.
Maniac