With correcting all the mistakes from my first tour bike (Giant OCR Tour) which had road specific gearing and tires, along with a compact frame, I could have bought a fully equiped custom bike and still had change left over. Ive learned a great deal since then and my new bike is a Surly LHT that fits great and is very comfortable.
The components work well together (carefull research helps) and the Brooks B17 cant be beat. I put this machine together myself and feel confident I can repair most, if not all , problems that may arise. Total price with carefull shopping was less than a bare bones Trek 520.
Much of what Ive learned was here at these forums.