"but it is the rare person, and I can't think of one, who has built his or her own home to specifications."

Depending on what you mean by "to specifications", I have. Which is why I consider myself to be both rare and lucky, "Liberty" can be a moveable feast but the local building inspector has been known to approve dirt floors. Properly constructed, compressed and finished, of course, and not in "wet areas".

Cheers, Rowan