The sky`s the limit when it comes to prices, look at some of the cues in the cue gallery and it`s pretty clear that both in materials and time these cues should be just as expensive as they look.
I think only a minority of cuemakers would argue that a custom cue would improve your game. It`s the Indian not the arrow.
Having said that, a cue made for you can have some features a production cue cant.
The obvious one is length, if your taller than avereage, a longer cue makes sense.
If you have very big hands or small hands a thicker or thinner than normal butt might be helpfull. Weight isn`t normally a huge variation as the vast majorety plays with cues between 18-21oz, but if you want something outside that range, that`s possible.
Cue balance is something that a cuemaker have more controll over than production cues, so if you want a particulary front heavy cue, that can easily be accomplished.
Choice of woods is usually wider and you can use woods that a production brand would never be able to use due to limited availability.
Some of the the stained stabilized burls I have seen lately are quite exeptional and you would never see that stuff in a production cue.
Then it`s all of the points with custom veneers, butterflies and unique inlays in wood, bone, stone, plastic, shell, silver, gold and other materials.
Pride of ownership and confidence in your cue is never a bad thing, how much you feel that is worth is a very individual thing.
