My take on KOs is much like some others here. I don't paint cranks to make money. I fish with the lures I paint, and I paint for my friends and family. If I am going to the time and effort to paint a lure. I am going to do it right. And I want to know it will run right when I'm done. I have painted some KOs and the ones that ran right still didn't perform as well as a name brand crank. And, you can bet your crankbait box, that with my luck if one out of five doesn't run right. That will be the one I've taken the most pains with to get perfect. Now, after all that work is done I have a lovely key chain ornament!!!
I'd rather find some name brand cranks in butt-ugly colors on sell. Or find some on ebay than run the risk with a KO. Even with name brand cranks every once and a while you'll get one that the rattle weight is locked up on one side and if you don't notice it before repainting. You 've made an instant Christmas tree ornament. Because that thing will never run right! That said, I would rather pay more and take my chances with a name brand crank.