Are OTPs approaching custom standards?

in summary:

• can an OTP bike ever compare to a custom-built frame? No, because they won't be built to fit you and you alone, and they lack the air of craftsmanship (which is nice).
  
• can an OTP bike ever compare to a customised bike with personally selected components? Yes, if the components and frame are well-specced then a very nice bike can be had OTP.
  
• do OTP bikes potentially provide a good quality bike at reasonable prices? Yes, absolutely.
  
• is it fun to customise your bike with components you have chosen yourself? Yes.
  
  

i don't understand the suggestion that OTP bikes might one day achieve the same "level" as customised bikes. there is no inherent difference between the quality of an OTP bike and a (non-custom) frame that you've bought and added components to yourself. the quality of the frame and components depends on how much you spend, but that's about it. the difference is the personal touch, not the quality (at equivalent price). it's not uncommon for someone to put together a shit bike themselves, so i reckon that in many cases it's better to defer to the experience of the OTP manufacturer, who is a professional and has probably been doing this sort of thing for much longer than some of us.