Switched from AI SDR to building my own GTM automations, cheaper & better control, seeing better results overall

I was using 11x ai for a bit to handle outbound , it’s one of those “AI SDR” platforms that basically promises to run your prospecting and outreach for you. It was impressive at first, but I started running into limits. The messaging felt a little too generic, and it was pricey for what you actually got. Ended up switching gears and started learning how to build my own GTM automations with Clay instead.
It took a bit of setup, but the difference was huge. I can combine data from multiple sources (they have this “waterfall enrichment” thing that automatically fills in missing info from 150+ providers), and actually decide which signals or data points to use before triggering outreach.
Getting cleaner data, more control, and pay less. It’s a little more work even though it's automation, but it feels way more powerful once you start building your own system.

Is ditching full-service AI SDR tools and just creating your own GTM stack the way? Feels like it's working for me but tell me the pros and cons.