I have to somewhat disagree on this. Well, I do agree that durability is pretty much guaranteed with a stainless plate (especially if you keep it rinsed and mind the places where other things are attached), but I don't agree that it's "just a hunk of metal."
For example, many brands of plates only come in one "standard" size. That's great for the average size male (whom annoyingly, everything fits), but not so great if you are not one of them. I needed a small plate and so that cut out some brands because they only make one size, or they make two sizes (which is better), but still not a "just right" one. So that's one way in which a plate is not "just a hunk of metal."
Then too, there are other small-detail differences, which may or may not matter to individual buyers (I happen to care; many people probably don't).
Blue Sparkle