Thx DP, it's good to be on again.
Yes, custom loops can cost more but remember, that cost allows for greater flexability, styling and they are serviceable . Almost all AIOs are throw away designs with exceptions from Swiftech, Cooler Master and a few others.
Personally for me the biggest advantage with custom loops is that you can WC more then just the CPU. WC a GPU, for example, allows you to OC more while also extending the useful llife
os said GPU. So, a well designed WC setup can pay for itself in the long run.