I weigh 200 pounds, and have been riding a set of 32-hole rear/28 hole front Mavic Open Pros for more than two years without having to touch them.
There may be diminishing returns to the obsession I put into wheels. I'm sure the difference between my wheels and those of any other competent builder is pretty small in relation to the time and care it takes to make that difference. But that's OK. It's a hobby business and I have enough customers to keep me almost as busy as I want to be. A number of my customers have had other wheels that have failed, and not had failures of my wheels.
Think of it in terms of frames: Does a Brian Baylis frame ride any better than a competently built, but plainer frame of the same geometry and tubeset? Tough question. Are there customers who will pay a huge premium for Brian Baylis frames because of the obsessive care he puts into his builds and paint jobs. Of course.
I think we can agree that IN THEORY, the things that I strive to do best make for a better wheel. If you can agree to that, I can agree that the difference between my wheels and any other competently built wheels with the same parts would be lost on most riders.
But also look at my postings as instructional: Here's all the things you can do to make the best possible set of wheels with any given set of components, if you want to be really obsessive about it. You can cut corners in a lot of places, and if you ask me, I'll gladly tell you which corners I'd cut first.
I won't tell you that you don't build good wheels. But please don't get personal, calling me unmarried and anal, because my hobby is to build obsessively good wheels.
Regards,
Earle Young,
Madison, Wisc.