True, it is an investment, both time and money...
A person can buy the plans and preselected laminates, riser block oven/press kit and make the rest of what they need from items bought at the local lumber yard...It is a process just to make the first bow.
The bow pictured has long since found a home, I wished I had more pictures especially of the limb tips. I started making bows with builder plans and after getting down the basics, changes the limb tips, shape of the riser, hight of the rest, shape of the limbs, well basically everthing...LOL
I had the good fortune of shooting 3D with world class traditional shooters, and got a chance to ask what they looked for in a bow, illuminating and very helpful, also they are very nice guys not a snob in the bunch...and incredible shots with a longbow...Yeah I was in awe...they never missed...LOL