Good on ya for doing your own pole dude, more power to your elbow I say
Mine is a Gardinders one, it does have advantages over your own, namely a stronger top section (done as a colaboration between gardiners and the pole manufacturers), and like your own it has no moving parts and no clamps to wear out, they have also worked out a method for ensuring the sections don't 'stick' or settle too deeply.
My old pole has lasted me three years, it's one of the cheap Unger aluminium poles, the little green bits wear forever wearing out
But it did its job and it's still there as backup if I need it
If money is tight then going the DIY route makes perfect sense, if I was strapped for cash, or even if I just fancied the idea of making my own up, I'd do just the same as you...
Ian