"meticulous labor".........hmmm, can't say I can get a handle on that.
I'm a total klutz with absolutely no mechanical skills but even I can execute a fairly good line guide wrap.
Mounting a reel seat, checks, cork handle. stripper and line guides, and tiptop is certainly not rocket science.
The rod blank is where it's at!
Being meticulous is certainly a fine attribute but total perfection in the details is not required to achieve a very good fishing rod.
Some of the new fiberglass blanks equal any material ever used to build an excellent fishing rod, imo.
And yes, they are going to cost you more, as any well executed blank will.