I certainly agree that for pure cutting, a high quality axe head on a tight-grained wooden handle is a joy to use. No doubt about it. (BTW, thanks for reminding me of the word "helved.")

But in everyday life, at least for me, axes frequently do a lot more than cut wood. Demolition, pounding posts, chopping roots, levering, tamping clay and loosening rust-welded parts.

And I think that sort of abuse would be realistic in a lot of SHTF scenarios. You use the tools you have at hand. And an axe is the original multitool, filling a lot of roles. With a fibreglass handle it is nigh unbreakable; but wooden handles don't care for that sort of work. At least that's been my experience.

(This is of course horror and heresy to people with fine axes such as Gränsfors. I wouldn't dream of heaping disrespect on such a fine tool. Sorry if I made you cringe. :-)