I would never discourage someone from trying something new. That's where the "next best thing" always comes from. I like building things myself and that's why I started making feather rests. I had a few late 50s recurves that needed new rests and at the time nobody was making anything close to the original Bear rests.
I made a lot of rests and gave a lot of rests away to be tested by fellow archers before finding a formula that creates a durable and functional product.
Since I sell rests as a sideline, I would not do a public DIY feather rest build, but if anyone that's trying to make them contacts me, I'll be glad to help get them through the process.
Daryl