I would say firepistons are rarely made by yourself....at least good ones. I have read many reports of fellows attempting to make one and it is not a trivial task.

As to worth the money...a BIC is a useful industrial cheap tool to make a fire but a piston is an artful way to make a fire. Well worth the money for a finely crafted unique device.

Not one person is ever going to oggle a handful of BIC's....I have yet to find a person who it not interested in a firepiston.