I think you raise a very good question and I will do my best to advise - but please don't think I am a rep - just an enthusiastic plumber
The Romans didn't think of bathing as important, they thought it was the very foundation of a civilisation - so forget plastic, it squeeks, expands, croaks, loses its colour and only looks good if its hight quality odd shapes.
Cast iron is very heavy, so risk of pulling your back, or chipping while moving around - think about leveling it - very difficult, to do alone with this, so extra labour and less profit. Cast is also an environmental nightmare, as the water that costs ££ to heat, is just absorbed by the cast at room temperature. So cast is a no-no.
Pressed steel has been my preferred choice for years
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I have a bette in my own place, its pressed steel, German heavy gauge compared to the Roca (their basic is about £120 with chrome grips) which is lighter. The baths also come tapless (for wall mouted grohe taps - looks great), they also do one with a lip turn up, to tile down too. They are easy to fit, just two leg sets - fit a batton levelled around at correct height, apply sanitary silicone on batton, and drop bath on. Then adjust down the legs, and screw down, fit brackets as directed on MIs.
The advantages of 'pressed, vitreous enamelled, steel,' can be seen in our hotel chains - they are robust, but most importantly, when wiped with soapy water they clean up to a shimmery shine and always look good - no fading. They are light and one man can fit them. When you bath in them, they feel clean, and sanitary (healthy) and smooth.
Disadvantages - can be chipped easily during transit and installation. I found ordering on line better, as packaging and delivery is good compared to getting one that has been kicking around the merchant for three years.
For economical installations that look good, go for the Grohe euro-plus deck mounted bath mixer, Roca basic bath, and use a Bette chrome plated pop-up, and it will look a million dollars. I always use a pop-up waste on baths and its worth paying for it - the type you want has double flanged washer on the waste fitting, so no silicone is required - and it will not leak when testing.
Tipps - wrap with rockwool on completion of installation, this will keep the heat - in, saving energy. This works well with thermostatic bath shower mixers, because baths can be filled at accurate temps, so topping up is not required - saves energy.
