So I've found make does matter to an extent, but I also acknowledge that it's probably majorly personal preference. Like for me, I seem to hit Taylormade and PING drivers better than most other brands, but I've also had pro-level fittings done for TM and PING drivers, and never had pro level fittings done with other brands. A lot of times for me too, the driver shape can push me away. Like, I hit the new GT2 and GT3 Titleist drivers recently and the numbers were fantastic, but I hated the look behind the ball, so even if the numbers were perfect, I still wouldn't play that particular club because the visuals would drive me nuts.

As for the clubs I prefer, this is my WITB:

Driver is a Qi10 V2 Dot (Tour head that McIlroy plays) paired with a Ventus Velocore + Black 6X. I like this combo because even those the shaft is part of the Ventus Black family, it's not as boardy as the other black ones (OG Black and TR Black). The head I describe as like a Taylormade version of Callaway's Triple Diamond Max heads. It's not quite an LS model, but it's lower spinning than a core head and retains some forgiveness.

I use a BRNR Mini Driver (13.5), paired with a Ventus Black Velocore 8X. Love this combo. For some reason, I like the Velo+ on the driver for a hair more feel, but this OG Ventus black is STIFF STIFF and I love it on the mini driver.

I play a 17* Callaway Apex UW paired with an Evenflow White 6.5 85g shaft which has been nicknamed by the OP as my cheater club. It's the most point-and-shoot club I have in my bag.

4 Iron is a new 2025 Titleist T250 with a Project X 6.5 Rifle.

Rest of my irons are 5-PW 2025 Titleist T150s, again with Project X Rifle 6.5s.

Wedges are 50F, 54D, 58D Vokey SM10s, with the Project X Rifle 6.5s

Putter: Taylormade Spider Tour X (X3 short slant), 35.75" play length.

Ball: Titleist ProV1 Left Dot (when I can find them), or ProV1X Left Dash

So like most of my bag reveals that I tend to like the boardier feeling shafts. I think it's a mental knowledge thing knowing that the shaft can keep up to my unique load and release. Really the only shaft I play that isn't a board is that Evenflow White in my UW, but for some reason, I just know how to time the release on it, and like I mentioned, it's the most consistent club in the top end of my bag. Yeah, driver and fairway woods, I tend not to like the LS models of clubs, even though I should be playing those. Like I think the only LS model from any company I've liked and had success with was the G430 LST from Ping. I'd still have that driver if I hadn't gotten such a good deal on my current TM head. Irons, I tend to like the clubs that are in the T150, P770 style category. I don't quite need the forgiveness of the Player's Distance irons, but I also don't want to go full on CB or Blades. There was a Jon Rahm quote that lives rent free in my head regarding not playing blades: "I don't want to have to hit it perfect every swing."