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Ive been collecting cues for 20 years. Currently play with a Gus Szamboti from the 70s. All the cues mentioned above (Cuetec, Mcderm, Falcon, Predator) are production cues, meaning basically that they are factory produced in mass. I would rate them all about the same with perhaps cuetec coming in the bottom. I was never partial to fiberglass cues, and cuetec may in fact be your best choice of the lot.
Getting a cuestick will depend upon two factors, how much do you want to spend and do you want a production cue or a custom cue. The main differences between custom and production is in the quality of the hit, resale value and the look of the cue. For a beginner I would not recommend a custom cue as they are too expensive and your game will not have a noticeable difference. If this is your first cue you may want to buy a used production cue on Ebay. The local pool hall is also a good choice.
If you are looking to spend below $200 then get a production cue or you can get a very plain cue (like a sneaky pete) from a custom cue maker. If you are looking to spend above $200 I would recommend you spend it on a custom cue as the resale value on the production cues is not as good and the quality of custom cue is higher if you find the right cue maker.
For beginner and intermediate players, the tip and straightness of the cue probably play a more important role in how well the cue plays than other factors.
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