I'm just at the final stages of a playthrough with home made stuff. It's usually much better than what you find if your crafter is up to his game. The problem lies in finding the much needed tormented soul. The only problem I have is with boots, belts and rings. There doesn't seem to be a way to enchanct them properly. Just add a claw or some other gadget which really doesn't do much in later stages of the game.
It's a good option for low level characters, when you haven't yet found better belts or boots for everybody in the party. Sure, that simple +1/+2/+3 modifier becomes meaningless later on. There should really be a way to stack them.
I tend to visit all ingredient merchants after gaining a level. I would buy up all void essences, all tormented souls, sextants, sinews etc. Even if I don't intend to create new weapons on that level. Having spares never hurts.
