I have found very good playing cues in many "production " cue companies including : Pre 1995 Palmer cues, Pre 1997 Meucci cues, Adam cues, Huebler cues, McDermott cues. I have found, if you try enough of them, you can find a few good playing cues from almost any " production" cue total output. I have an Imperial cue ( 1998) and another smaller name production cue from the early 1990s that have 2 of the best playing shafts I have ever owned- go figure!
My first choice - however is Huebler- at least the two that I have owned matched up in hit quality to any other $1,000+ custom that I have owned.