iirc it resulted in a considerably lower price than cathar expected when Dtek started doing Whitewaters about 2 years ago.....iirc they were still the most expensive things on the market (as well as the best...)

I very much doubt it - look on onlinemetals.com, 6.5mm thick, 50.8mm wide, 60 inch length (enough for 20 block tops) is $55.61, which is $2.70 a top. As a company they will obviously be charged less + buy in a larger quantity.

Obviously cheaper is better for a company, but 'considerably' could be pushing it, when the difference HAS to be less than $2.50 a block. Not insignificant, but shouldnt be a huge factor...

Person thoughts on reasons for alu

lighter (shipping weight)
easier to machine, easier on tools
easier to refinish to make a unique look
cheaper

Well I decided to put the barbs on the same way jaydee did.
here is a couple pictures...
http://www3.telus.net/MadHacker/crac...sattached1.jpg
http://www3.telus.net/MadHacker/crac...sattached2.jpg
It was a real pain to do...
Got a nice brown rectangle on my balcony concrete...
Was all black when I finnished but it cleaned up pretty good...
I'll mount it this weekend if I get a chance....

Yes, there are always reasons.... the bean counters have lots! I applaud the companies that do go the extra mile tho...!

That is FREAKN cool Madhacker!! I likes!!
Except mine would "bend" the other way! :)

pretty sure it was the easier machineability that made the cost difference rather than the raw material cost - which is probably even less than you quote as the original copper LRWW top plate was about 4mm thick (at least mine is)

If I knew as was not going to be able to attach my barbs by threading them in like teh original top to the WW i would have bought a 5mm top and saved teh money as well but then again my savings is minimal.

Well I mounted the block over the weekend :)
Have a 2.4Ghz P4 @533FSB O/C to 3.3Ghz.
The temperature was hovering around 69-72 deg when it was air cooled. now it Is 39-41 deg. folding 24/7
Also now have pushed the O/C to 3.4 Ghz :D