Originally Posted by MassiveD

Do you mean that you would not spend the money on such a frame? Basically if a person wants a cheap expedition tourer, there are good choices already. You have to want the retro frame, but tig welded in China. But those kind of people are out there.

Custom, basically people who buy custom frames want: to spend more money; buy more beauty or fit; or need something that is not at the mean, like a real crazy expedition worthy bike, or maybe a real light tourer that still mounts normal accessories. Or maybe they want S&S on a bike that is worth that. Price is normally not the issue. Most enthusiasts that I know who buy low end frames, buy so many bikes, that they could have bought several customs, no problem, same goes with the buyers of mid range components. At least if you buy the most expensive near the beginning, you know that there really won't be some magical formula discovered by a mid market purveyor, and you won't feel the need to stray. But that said, there are collectors at all price levels.