I get the feeling that people using hiking staffs are a lot like archers and their bows, in that you have your trads who love the simplicity, warmth, feel and individuality of a good wooden staff and the techs that like a well machined and accessorized staff. Myself, I love a good longbow and a stout quarterstaff. A good wooden staff will do anything I need it to do from being a spear with a good lance head to a fishing and frogging spear with a frog gig attached. It'll pry, check the depth of a water crossing point, will carry lots of cord wrapped around it to hold the wrist loop in place and can be personalized by the carrier by attaching any number of things to it. Besides, it's difficult to whittle down an aluminum staff in a pinch to make a survival bow. :o)