Are exotic speaker cabinet materials overrated?

I think if we change the word "overrated" to "necessary" we might have a more productive conversation. I own a couple exotic drum sets. One made of multiple plies of maple the other of a single steam bent plank. Each has unique properties that I like and neither is "cheap". Using plies is much easier to shape into a shell with the solid plank requiring steam and immense pressure. The same of HDF/MDF cabinets with outer plies of exotic wood materials and internal bracing. Despite our feelings on the matter, you can’t argue with the many fine speaker manufacturers who are using something other than 100% exotic materials.

99% of the mass produced commercially built speakers in the world, are made of cheap materials. No matter what the kids at ASR say. 

@ditusa Producers vs reproducers. Good way of viewing it!

 Musical instruments are sound producers; loudspeakers are sound reproducers.
All musical resonance is already encoded in the recording.
When a cabinet adds its own vibration, it’s not revealing music—it’s adding a new instrument that wasn’t there. That may be pleasing, but it’s no longer faithful reproduction.

Sound producer → allowed to resonate

Sound reproducer → must not

@tcutter The supplied image is very good for demonstrating two areas under discussion as follows:

1, The Skeletal Bracing is obviously complex and of a design that should produce a Skin on the structure to conforms to a parameter of resonance control set by the Speakers Manufacturer. 

2. Even though complex as an assembly, the design creates a methodology to produce a bracing structure, that is not complex to produce the parts, (think CNC or another computerised cutting tool to achieve the basic components). The Assembly of the Bracing Framing, does not require a skilled individual, basic training will create a individual quite able to put the assembly together.

The Company has shown wisdom in their approach to controlling costs for their specific needs. Maybe? as a result, there is also a improved confidence in what a supply chain can be consistent in offering. I feel confident this also extends to the design for and selection of materials used to produced the enclosure of the structure.   

This is a very old argument.

I would think that eliminating cabinet resonance is simpler than controlling it the right way, or tune the speakers, as someone would say.

But speakers must be 'alive', whatever the philosophy.