if you want to spend $500 dollars on a binding, go for the steel. it is bombproof, and is what Seth has been riding for the past 15+ years.  If you don't quite want to throw the cash on that expensive of a binding, the sth 16 is a great binder. I was in a similar situation recently, was looking to the fks 180 or sth 16 steel, i decided that the sth bindings i currently own have never failed me, and that for the price i would be spending on either of those bindings i could get the sth16, normal version and a pair of pants. I would go regular sth 16.