Are OTPs approaching custom standards?

OTPs get the job done, and get the unwashed onto one gear.
I think you're missing the point here. Who gives a shit what people that they don't know choose to ride. Someone else choosing to ride fixed, SS, offroad, 20" wheel trials, TT and whatever else have no bearing on us riding our bikes.

I couldn't give a damn if you have an OTP which you bought third hand and VB has a custom serotta. They are your bikes, you ride them. It's you who has to live with them and gain enjoyment from them. I have my own bikes which I love to pieces, they all suit me perfectly and are made from scratch with my choices of components, assembled by me and then ridden by me.

Are off the pegs approaching custom bikes. The answer is no whether you accept custom to mean a custom made frame or a customised bike built from a frame and the owners selection of components. The reason is thus;

custom
*adjective*1. made according to the specifications of an individual [syn: custom-made] [ant: ready-made]

Off the peg bikes are made to the specification of a company, the only choice an end user has is whether to purchase one or not.
If you buy and then upgrade a OTP bike and change some or all of the parts you are no longer riding an OTP. You are riding a customised bike based on a OTP frame.