My cousin in Florida just spent five grand replacing his wood deck after termite damage. Composite might not have that old school charm, but it doesn't rot, splinter, or need yearly staining. That's a huge win for busy people. The color lasts way longer without fading in the sun. Sure, it feels different underfoot, but not having a weekend project every single summer is worth it. The trade-off for less work and more free time is pretty solid.

@the_mia Did the capacitor swap actually fix yours?

Reminds me of when my uncle bought a fancy riding lawnmower from a late night TV ad. Looked amazing in the commercial, showed up in a box with half the bolts missing and a motor that sounded like a dying animal. He spent more time trying to fix it than he ever did mowing. The shiny promise is always the trap.