My grandma had steel cabinets in her house and I think it’s clear why they went away. They are cold, loud, and rattly, like an old toolbox. Wood cabinets are warm, comforting, dampen sound in the space, and don’t rust. Modern melamine shelving is also a dream because it’s inexpensive and very easy to clean. MDF is a great base for this- inexpensive, perfectly flat, won’t warp or distort over time, etc.
Not everything new is worse than everything old.
