M-theory you sound as though you are in or close to Santa Cruz. If so it might be worth you while to head up to Sacramento to the NAHBS.... you might be able to get a feel from builders and ideas on ubi as a good investment or not.

and here is a list of bay area builders

http://yojimg.net/bike/sf_framebuilders/

4130 Inc., San Francisco
Ahrens Bicycles, San Jose
Black Cat Bicycles, Santa Cruz
Broakland Bicycles/Montano Velo, Oakland
Bruce Gordon Cycles, Petaluma
Caletti Cycles, Santa Cruz
Calfee Design, La Selva Beach
Cleaver Bikes, Oakland
Ed Litton, Point Richmond
Eisentraut, Oakland (unsure of current status?)
El Camino Fab, Emeryville
Francis Cycles, Santa Cruz
Grognard Bike Co, Sacramento
Halekai Machine, Pleasant Hill
Hunter Cycles, Watsonville
Inglis/Retrotec, Napa
Innerlight Cycles, Davis
Mikkelsen Frames, Alameda
Miles Bicycles, San Francisco
NTP Bikes, San Francisco
Patrick Cycles, San Jose
Rebolledo Cycles, Glen Ellen
Rock Lobster Cycles, Santa Cruz
Rock the Bike, Berkeley
Saso Custom Bicycles, San Jose
Shawver Cycles, San Carlos
Silva Cycles, Campbell
Soulcraft, Petaluma
Steelman Cycles, Redwood City
Steve Potts Bicycles, Point Reyes
Steve Rex, Sacramento
Sycip Cycles, Santa Rosa
Tallerico, Lodi