Thanks for the post ed. I like seeing lists that summarize stuff, so I don't have to exert my brain too much.

How about Parker's polycarbonate neck that they put on their guitars? I've played a NiteFly before, and it felt great, and it sounded alright as well. It's hard to compare, since they don't make a guitar with a normal neck so there's nothing similar to compare it to.

And with regards to building your own guitar - with most things, it is cheaper to buy, unless it is vintage. The big companies have economies of scale which come with mass "capitalist pig-dog" production, so they will always have an advantage over a single person who wants to make it by hand. Just ask Uncle Ford.