Reflect on how this mirrors the shift in furniture from solid wood to composite boards, where longevity wins but the story in the grain is lost. In my experience, that pursuit of perfection through synthetics flattens out the unique imperfections that give instruments, or any craft, its soul. Your mileage may vary, but we see this in photography too, with digital sensors replacing film and its inherent texture. It feels like a broader cultural trade-off, favoring consistent performance over the unpredictable beauty of natural materials. That's not to say synthetics are bad, just that the choice often reflects what we value as a society.