Make your first set from a less expensive material. The second set will be close to what you want. On the third set, you should be able to use the expensive material and have a set of really nice grips.
I learned all of the above from screwing up a lot of material while making knives.
It's all about salesmanship. Especially with tighter budgets, departments want more for their buck. Usually, the ones writing the checks ain't the firearm instructors.
Not slamming either brand, but I prefer something that's been out of R&D for a long time.