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I've been seeing a lot of hype around titanium gears lately, especially in things like fishing reels and occasionally even RC cars. The marketing always talks about amazing strength and weight savings, but I'm starting to wonder if it's mostly just a way to jack up the price. Steel gears,properly hardened and treated,seem perfectly capable of handling notable loads,and the actual weight difference in a small gear isn't likely that noticeable.
My suspicion is that for most applications, the performance benefits of titanium are marginal compared to the cost increase. Are we really pushing devices hard enough that we're consistently failing steel gears? Or is it more about the perceived superior material and the associated bragging rights? I'm curious if anyone has actually experienced a significant performance difference with titanium gears that justified the extra expense.Or is it just a case of diminishing returns, where you're paying a lot more for a very small advancement in durability or weight? Maybe it's more relevant in niche, high-end applications, but for general use, I'm leaning towards thinking it's largely marketing over substance. What do you all think?