DIY RokStok in maple

[Mtnmilsurp]

For OP or anyone who knows, would a laminated piece of wood with alternating grain direction be more rigid and/or better? I'm certain it wouldn't be more attractive...

I have no experience with laminate but expect it would be more of a challenge to inlet precisely by hand. You’d constantly be running into glue and differing wood grain and density, no?