Yeah, i know exactly what you mean with the plastic look. The Fanatec CSW is a candy crusher for the eye compared to the plastic in a dozen thrustmaster. And thrustmaster has all those fisher price looking play-buttons. Those are for kids, not for sturdy man!
But that is the outside. And the inside of Fanatec has also good looks concerning the metal parts. But construction wise it looks fragile. It does not look like a wheel to Drive a rally stint for about 15 minutes al full strength. Im afraid it falls apart after 5 minutes, gears flying around your ears. Or that the belt slips, parts break of. It does not look at ridgid as my current G27, which has zero play in the shaft after years of violent abuse (including my rage attacks
during races were my G27 was victim of heavy forces
) Actually i would not dare to use the wheel. Just set the base in the living room for eye candy with a little plate in front: "Do not though!"