Rob, buddy,dont fight it, just give in to the dark side, i mean metal risers. I used to feel the same way, was a wood nut,from years of building custom trad muzzleloaders with curly maple, and black walnut, but after I got my first metal riser Quinn, I was hooked! Dont ask me how many I have now. I like the balacne of the metal risers, and the attachment holes. Also I dont worry a bout hurting the nice wood while crawling into a rough ground blind in a briar thicket. I assume the Hoyt bushings are working fine?