Jim2 -- the custom frame fitting and building process described in the book that I mentioned is fascinating. Small family shop in England, personal service. Everything starts with a road test to see how the rider moves and interacts with the bike. After that, it's half engineering and half Jedi intuition, it seems, to get a perfect fit. The chapter on visiting the wheel builder in California is equally interesting.
I have heard of Richard Sachs, but not the others. Will check them out. Independent Fab....I think Gary's good friend has a Ti mtn. bike made by them. Very nice rig. I took it for a little spin, and was impressed. Very responsive, agile, instant connection bet. pedal and wheel.
Like you, I regret not waiting a year, putting a few more dollars in the piggy bank, and getting a REAL mtn. bike. As much as I love my 29er (Fischer Paragon, '09), if I were to do it again, I would get a Ti or Reynolds frame, made in North America, not mass produced in China. Whether I would go custom or std. cut, I'm not sure. Moots is a company I would look at. Niner makes some nice rigs too, but not in Ti.