Is metal becoming the new plastic?

So much so, that today even budget handset like Samsung's new J-series, or affordable phones from Xiaomi or Meizu, are all clad in some sort of an aluminum alloy, even sub-$200 ones. That's not even adding the current flagships from LG or HTC, which are crafted out of the cold hard stuff, too. Well, HTC was one of the first to toy around with premium metal designs, and has been doing it forever, so it's really everyone else that all of a sudden switched course in the span of a year or so, but still...

That is why we wanted to ask you today whether you think that metal is slowly turning into the new plastic. Granted, it is harder, feels more solid, and ia sometimes shiny, but if everyone and their low-enders employ it, can we really call it a "premium" design anymore? Tell us your opinion in the poll below, and pile on in the comments.