For most people under 30 I would say it is. I'm 35 and it has been a full circle for me though. I grew up around guys hunting with Brownings, Berettas, Weatherbys, and other pretty wood stocked guns so I accepted it as normal and used them too. As I got older I became conscious of scratching up the "pretty wood", or damaging an heirloom gun so I let them sit in the safe and began to purchase synthetic stocked rifles and tactical set ups. Then earlier this year I started to lust for a new wood stocked deeply blued rifle to use so I picked up a Winchester m 70 Supergrade Maple in 308 since most of my others hold some sentimental value. As for the rust comments, I too was taught to wipe my rifles off with a lightly oiled cloth after trips that were extremely cold or rain. I never understood people who just expect to use rifles in all types of weather conditions and not do any maintenance / upkeep.