The advantage of making jewelry from non precious materials

Since I started making jewelry I work with silver or gold combined with semi-precious stones. I never felt the need to change this approach. But occasionally I have other thoughts. These come mainly when I pass by low cost jewelry stores or when I read magazines that present jewelry made of base metal and beads that mimic stone. Many times I find there really interesting designs and I envy their artistic liberty. What I mean is that the use of cheap materials allows creativity freedom because there is less need to consider the prices of raw materials. One can design big, complex pieces that are rich in metal components and in beads and in stones.