The hum associated with single coils has never really bothered me that much... I don't do much recording and perhaps that why. For live situations, and even jamming at home or with friends, the hum largely goes unnoticed. Perhaps my hearing has gotten that bad...

The last few strats I've wired up I haven't even used RWRP middle pickups. They have always sounded a bit off off to me but I suppose that's just my ear. I do use a full 62-style aluminum shield, a ground wire to the trem or bridge, and ground wires from the tone pots to the volume pot... this has always worked well for me.

To address the original post, it does seem like a $1000+ guitar should be properly shielded and grounded, for that matter, any "decent" guitar should be... and by that I mean MIM production strats.

Xhefri,Marvin beat me to it,that flame Strat with the black pickguard is a striking beauty.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.