>>2453135my take was mostly that when i see something with a fiberglass or plastic handle mentally i just go to 'disposable'. it's a bias for sure though. fiberglass probably does last longer than wood, but when it comes to an heirloom type thing, wood/leather > plastic. but that's just me.
but regarding not actually using the traditional type stuff.. heh, pic related.
(i've got a veritable tree farm to work with and need a solid splitting axe for acres and acres of reprod pine -- i have a fiskars 'tacticool' maul that's plastic and fiberglass but it's just overkill and unnecessarily heavy)