When I built my T style and S style guitars it was all about the neck. I wanted big soft V vintage style neck with tall skinny frets. That's partially why I didn't consider a Fender neck.
Also, USACG necks can cost less than used Fender necks (if you finish them, dress the frets and cut the nut yourself).
I built the "Tele" first. The Baja Tele didn't exist yet so I built it using a USACG body and neck, mostly Fender '52 reissue hardware and Fralin pickups. I tried several sets of pickups (bought used then re-sold) before deciding on a new set of Fralins. The guitar weighs about 6-1/2 pounds, plays like a dream and sounds like a Tele should. I got lucky and this neck and body seem to be made for each other, tonally- they are as one.
This guitar is my "number one". It cost me about $800 to build about 10 years ago.
The "Strat" is/was an early Highway 1 Strat that I found the neck to be too small on but saw promise in otherwise. I sold the original neck for what I paid for the USACG neck, sold the bridge and replaced it with a Callaham (it was cheaper than they are now back then) and installed a set of Fralin pickups that I've had for a long time (I put the originals in a kit guitar that my son and I built).
This guitar cost $500 new (I had a coupon), I broke even on the neck, paid about $50 out of pocket for the bridge, I don't recall what Fralin pickups cost back in the late '90s ($175 for the set?) and then there was the cost of tuners, '50s style pick guard, etc...
I probably cost me about $800 or so.
Again, it plays great and sounds like a good Strat (though it's not as great as the Tele, tonally).
Considering the quality of these guitars, I did save money compared to similar instruments (but, as I mentioned above, you have to do the neck work yourself).
BTW, I wouldn't bother building these if it wasn't so darn fun!
I went back and tinted the Strat's neck since this pic.