I have a similarly lengthy justification for my Feather track bike (including exactly the same situation with pricing - he was massively undercharging when I ordered mine) but UK custom builders are still a bargain for the amount of work and craftsmanship involved, and I don't think you have to explain or make excuses, especially here. If I didn't have a young child and wasn't saving for a deposit on a flat I'd be straight on the blower to Ricky about an XCr road frame.
I have a similarly lengthy justification for my Feather track bike (including exactly the same situation with pricing - he was massively undercharging when I ordered mine) but UK custom builders are still a bargain for the amount of work and craftsmanship involved, and I don't think you have to explain or make excuses, especially here. If I didn't have a young child and wasn't saving for a deposit on a flat I'd be straight on the blower to Ricky about an XCr road frame.