I mostly shoot alum, but I have some wood for when it's required. I usually buy a dozen or less (shafts, not arrows), since I have dozens at home already made up. I won't even consider plastic fletch. Yeah, the feathers wear out. So what? Now I can strip them and rebuild the arrows. Making them is almost as much fun as shooting them. I guess I don't know how to make them better, but I'm not really sure we need to. The aluminums are certainly straight enough and tough enough. The woodies bend and break, but then they're supposed to, aren't they? If I really wanted technological improvements, I'd guess I'd put the bow away and get a gun.