The Abell ends are pretty nice but spendy. I had picked a set up and then didn't end up doing the plane I bought them for so that's why I put them on my DO. I think your right, your home built rods work just as good and save a bunch of $. I'm planning to try to build a set myself for one of my profile planes using the method of aluminum tubing to keep the CF from splitting. What do you use to glue the all thread into the CF tube?