Spokes used to be cheap. They are soooooo expensive now and so much cheaper to buy pre-built wheels. I have about 5 sets of hubs that I don't mind rebuilding with something like affordable Wienmann LP18's. 40 bucks for rims and 70+ for spokes!!! Yikes. I can get pre build LP18's on Shimano low end hubs for a little bit more than that.
I regret the day I didn't buy the Phil Wood threading tool from Phil himself at a bike show back in the 80's. He was gonna sell me the floor model. Dang it.