> "one approach is "traditional" and one is modern and/or cheaper."

Just to clarify that some of the high tech laminate processes would add considerably to costs.

> "There are people who claim they can hear a difference between maple and rosewood fretboards, despite the fact that the strings don't resonate against the fretboard normally. The differences, to me at least, are aesthetics and the hardness and finish (or lack of) of the woods."

Remember that the neck as a whole is joined to the body by one means or another to form "one". It is very difficult to isolate individual parts of the end formula, especially as every piece of wood is different, and therefore results are somewhat inconsistent, but each part does contribute the whole to a greater or lesser extent.

LouisWu: Thanks for the opportunity to counter your prejudice. :)