Hello again Niels!
Nice to see a like-minded collector who collects predominantly armour. Not that I have anything against aircraft, in fact I plan to launch my aircraft collection very soon in the near future (no pun intended).
You spoke my mind. I had often wondered that question as well. I'm sure you'd have browsed through some of the earlier threads in the Ground Vehicles Model section, where you' see this little interesting debate on heft versus looks. I collect armour made out of plastic (Tamiya Masterworks, Dragon, Easy Model & 21st Century), metal (Franklin Mint, Forces of Valor, Minichamps, Admiral and some 21st Century), resin (Del Prado) and composite materials (King & Country).
Notwithstanding the merits and downsides of each of these materials, I don't make a distinction based on what it is made of. For me, the point of reference is "the look" of the model. Models that come with a nice touch of weathering, sharp details and realistic paint job is what appeals to me personally. I will pass on a model, whatever it is made of, if it looks like it's made for a 5-year old. Since I have decided to put money into this rather financially haemorraging hobby, I may as well spend it on something that appeals to my liking.
I agree that plastic models attract dust more easily and are harder to maintain. But displaying them in a fully enclosed glass showcase in an airconditioned environment would largely mitigate the problem.
Paladin18