Basic science does not equal to basic economics. Plastics are cheaper to mass produce.

It also means that if I am paying more per gallon of gas - I have less money for games and game figs. In this case WizKids might price themselves out of the market for some gamers. That and I am certain they are accustomed to make a certain profit margin…

“That and I am certain they are accustomed to make a certain profit margin…”

That’s a companies reason for existing, don’t be a hater.

Plastics are usually cast in metal molds which cost a lot to make so they have a higher start up ciost but those molds are made of iron or steel and last WAY longer than vulcanized rubber molds. Also plastic is usually injection-cast or in some cases stamped at a lower temperature than white metal alloys and lower temperature also extends the usuable life of a mold.

Genreally starting with plastics is expensive but over time they get much cheaper. Plastics are great for high volume production. Sadly most minatures are made a medium volumes because they are not consumed by the mainstream but a niche. GW can afford plastics as can toy, board game, and model maunfacturers. Mongoose tried it and apprently couldn’t pay for it and left the fig making businese “for 2008″ which probably means forever. Rackham just made the leap from white metal to plastic and we’ll see how sucessful they are in due time. PP also just started out with plastics their Monsterpocalypse collectable game. Whizkids has been doing plastics for a long long time now.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the oil prices effecting plastic prices in the long term. There are already alternate formulations for polypropylene that can be produced from non petroleum sources like vegetable oils and they will hit manufacturing soonish (in the next five years or so). Of course the industrial goal is to use them to make cheap (hopefully stampable) carbon composites which will replace fiberglass in cars, boats, and planes. But they’ll help plastics people along the way.