Reminds me of the folks who never would wear a seatbelt because they once heard of someone whose life was saved by being thrown from the vehicle. Steel cables are known to fail--especially if they've been kinked. The kinetic energy they store will take off someone's head--through the windshield. Search YouTube if you don't believe me. Synthetic is lighter, stronger, easier to handle, and safer. Your complaint that if you get it into mud and muck, you must clean it up, has some validity. For someone who's sole idea of off-roading is playing in mud. Otherwise, synthetic wins hands down over steel for the rest of the off-roading community. That's why many off-road competitions now require synthetic winchline.

 

"They" say synthetic can be affected by UV exposure. Off Road Trail Tools makes a cool cover that wraps around the drum, covering the spooled line. Seals with Velcro. Slick. If nothing else, it keeps the rope clean, which is good for it, too.