I can kind of relate to Elton's take on rope building. It's a tough item to make--real hard on the hands if done right. The market for them has shrunk a bunch, too. On top of that, I've had makers tell me it's real tough to find decent poly anymore.
Except for a few custom makers--Jess Gorley (spins his own rope), Raymond Branch, Dane Livingston, etc., most of the ropes made today are built in Mexico. I think Neal Barstow and his crew still braid in-house, but the rest of the mass-producers go South of the border. There are a few more exceptions, but the Brazilian-style has also come into the mix.
I haven't built a rope in a couple of years now. And, I haven't missed it. Not even for a minute.