Why is this? What is the real cost difference in equipment between Ti/TIG and braze/steel for example? I'm mainly going this route because I want my first bike to be a bike I actually want. If I'm going to spend 2k on bike building classes, the least I should get is something I'm into.

I think not making commuters is interesting. I know a lot of people who are super enthusiastic about biking as a means of transportation, and honestly, I just think I'd like to offer those people something nice. After bike messengers (which I have been in several cities) I think that commuters are the most inline with my thoughts on what bicycling means. I really can't stand blowing past over weight slow cyclist with over-expensive gear. I had a conversation with one guy who has a 7k carbon fiber whatever, and I kept telling him that if he lost 20 pounds of fat, it would help his riding more than any tech. I'd love to make custom frames that are ridden daily, used in the rain, etc.