Those are good questions TxDoc.
I would note that my custom wheels are a pretty basic build. What I found in researching wheels is that I could get a lighter wheel by going custom for the money than I could get with pre-builts. There is, howvever, nothing particular blingey about them. I didn't choose custom because I needed it; I chose it because it made the most economic sense.
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.
--Mary Anne Radmacher