Does the smoothness of a throw-off really matter that much? I can understand if it's all choppy, but does it need to be like butter?
I'm happy with my Ludwig, it gets the job done.
You are 100% correct.
None of these high end strainers are required.
I have thousand of examples with me, and thousands more at home. Recordings done with Ludwig supraphonic, BB, Gretsch, Tama and so on. All have factory throws and all have top notch sound.
I can only imagine the ad hype that went into the nickle throw.
"Hmm.. how do we sell a throw with a cheap plastic lever for the same or more than the superior competition?" (brainstorming session)
"Hey I know! We will tell customers that molded plastic sounds superior to real metal! Yeah, that's the ticket! Metal must be singing or choking something in the throw!!! " And thus, people pay the same for a plastic levered throw as a metal throw assuming it gives the attached snare drum some etherial sonic properties. In reality, they are paying an absurd amount of money for a strainer with imported/inferior plastic parts that break easily and don't help the sound.
FWIW: one of the iconic snare drum sounds of all time: Copeland's early Police albums. He used an off-the-rack plain steel tama snare. No special throw. Peart used an old Slingerland radio king. Bonham used...well we all know what he used.
That's my rant. I hate the nickleworks strainer.
Did I mention that I hated the nickleworks plastic-handled strainer? Well, I do. It's one product I have no respect for, especially since it's not inexpensive. YEEECCCKK.