are all 1x11 speed cassettes the same?
 

I know stupid question but have to ask. I have a 1x11 speed and the rear cassette is a VG sport cassette 11-42 so probably a lower quality cassette. My rear derailleur is a Deore M5100 and I have a bar end microshift 11speed bar end shifter. I want to run two sets of wheels and would like to use a better quality shimano 11 speed cassette in the same 11-42 configuration on one of the wheels. right now bike shifts really well if I swap the cassettes am I going to have to make adjustments to the shifter every time I switch back and forth between cassettes? thanks

Apart from the cassettes, different free hubs can be slightly different. Unless you buy wheels exactly the same as your originals there is always a chance that the cassettes will not line up correctly. If you have disc brakes, you can also have issues with brake calliper rub

But you can use a shim to adjust cassette spacing. I do this on my Cannondale Topstone gravel bike. A WTB OEM wheel, no name hub, has a 105 12-25 cassette, 2nd wheelset is a 105 hub with a Shimano 11-34 cassette plus a 1mm spacer or so. I go back and forth on these wheels with no adjustment needed to the cable tension for the rear derailer.

free hubs will be the same and wheels are built by the same person using the same hubs and wheels ie wheels will be identical. also cantilever brakes.

Yes all cassettes are the same. Your plan is fine.

It would be totally normal to have to tweek the RDER barrel adjuster a click or 3 when swapping.
Manufacturing tolerances on supposedly identical parts.