This entire discussion cracks me up. I'm an IT guy, so I deal with phones all the time, and also tend to notice what people around me are carrying and using. I can't speak for the rest of the world, but in the Dallas area, I'd estimate that 95% of people I see have their phones in some kind of protective case, with only the glass of the screen showing. Given that, I just don't see what all the fuss is about. They could make the things out of titanium, and I'd still put it in a protective case made out of plastic/rubber (in fact, I have a great Boker Subcom knife with a titanium frame, and it scratches easily, but still is one of the best knives I've owned). So, what is important to me on phone build material is Gorilla Glass, as it's the only part of the phone that is going to be visible and exposed. The housing doesn't affect how it works. Provided it is fairly durable and not prone to bending/breaking, what does it matter? I care about performance. I'm far more concerned with substance over style. Give me good specs and a solid user experience, and you can make the stupid housing out of recycled Coke bottles for all I care.