A skilled fabricator will have little trouble building a bicycle frame if he/she knows where to find dimensions. When I got started the only commercial fixtures were useless for anything but lugged road frames which were in very low demand for off road use. I am glad I started at a time when things weren't so standardized as they are today but that is mostly because it suited me better personally because I like fabrication, not just bikes. Sometimes artists need time to learn how to paint or sculpt. Others, make paint, weave canvas then sit down and create a painting. It matters not to the folks who enjoy it once it's done if the product suits their tastes.