In reality, there is no true price point for a "great" playing cue - if we look at playability being the sole deciding factor on value. As someone who has a lot of experience with actually playing with various cues by custom makers, I know that you can, by chance, pick up a $50 cue and say wow " this cue hits great". Yet, you will probably never convince someone to give you $500 for that cue.
What you should expect from a true quality custom maker in terms of playability is consistency of that feeling throughout most if not all the cues that they build. In production cues, one should anticipate some hit and miss on consistency.
I think that the higher end custom makers have proven their cue's playing consistency to the discerning cue aficionados over a long period of time. Ned Morris cues may possess critical acclaim as to their playability- but that reputation has to be spread far and wide along with other market related factors for his cues to rise in value.
This thread is the first time I heard someone rave about Ned Morris cues- goes to prove that marketing- no matter how it is achieved, becomes a big factor in perceived value - especially when other revered consumers support someone's claim of a great product. That is mostly how GB, Szamboti, Scruggs etc. became cherished cues, ( continued positive reviews by well respected/ well known consumers supported by consistent results from the producer) - then the laws of supply and demand take over in the market.
