It is about the sound, both in ornamentation and honk. For ITM, the wooden flute sits perfectly, or perhaps the other way 'round. On the other hand, the silver flute (including wooden versions of same) work better, IMO, for many, or most, other styles of music.
Which flute we relate to best, though, is clearly a matter of taste, both in what music we most often play and what feels better in our hands when doing so. Clearly, on this forum, the wooden SS, non-baroque, flute is the more organic, the most discussed, and the most desirable. And then we argue about what type, Rudall or Pratten, modern, antique or hybrid.
I.D.10-t is right - they really are different instruments, no better or worse than the other, just different, for different purposes. Good stuff can happen, though, when good players mix and match them - I was playing an O'Carollan on my guitar, full distortion, the other day... I thought it sounded great; not sure it would have won over a pub crowd. I should have used a wah pedal, though... Maybe that would have helped...
