if you want a custom bat, then go for CE. With GM you cannot specify your requirements in terms of pick-up, grains, middle poistion etc. you will have choose and buy what is available with the retailer(s).
With CE you can talk to Chris and discuss what you want and get the best advise and a great bat.
Not to mention it a CE will be a much cheaper and at least the same quality (in terms of its play and performance).
I feel a hand made bat is always better than a machine made one as the bat maker can do more justice to the piece of willow when making it himself rather than throwing it into the machine.
At the end GM will charge you for the brand name and all the money they pay for endorsements and advertising. CE will not have any such overheads and quality will be top notch.