I used to think I would never shoot metal, but all that changed since i reviewed the Titan. I now have 5 metal riser bows .
What I would like to see in a metal riser is
Dual plunger holes for off the shelf and elevated rest.
A crowned shelf.
ILF , there are to many good limbs available in every price range. Many of us have several sets of very good quality limbs now and another riser to mount them on is a nice option, rather than getting a complete bow. You would be hard pressed to make limbs that equal the top ILF limbs available today for the price they sell for. You can easily compete in the pretty limb catagory though quite easily and there is a market for good performing eye candy.
The shooter will decide if he wants world class , cheap or eye candy.
Make it short in several lengths .14, 16, and 18"
Removable/exchangable grips like the LAS Titan uses. These are affordable and come in high med and low . Nobody wants to spend 2 to 3 times as much for a grip than they need to.
Offer a leather grip wrap for cold weather.
Make it primarily shooter friendly .Acuracy out trumps speed. Nobody wants a stable ILF limb on a twitchy riser.
Keep the weight down .Every ounce hurts on long hikes.Hunting bows do not need the heavy weight of a FITA bow.
Balance the riser so stabilizers, weights are not needed.
A smooth radius on all edges makes for a clean looking riser.
Lateral limb adjustment dovetails like the Spigarelli/ LAS Titan use.
Pete