When it comes to shock protection, there is almost significant difference, but once you have a decent incabloc or similar setup, this difference will add up to inches of drop, not feet. Acceleration and sudden deceleration are a tough test for anything designed not to wear. Obviously, a pinwheel with a conical setup or a plastic movement will be much more resistant but... Likewise, I suspect that a silicon balnace would be much more resistant, and I am just waiting for the first all silicon movement. I'm amazed someone hasn't just knocked up a copy of a classic movement already...