Are plastic (HDPE/HDPS) potting benches better than wood?

For all-weather outdoor use, the consensus across reviewers and gardening communities leans toward HDPE/HDPS poly construction because it won't rot, fade, or swell the way thin fir and pine often do. Verified-purchase reviewers repeatedly praise poly benches for wiping clean and surviving rain and sun, while community threads warn that cheap softwood benches can feel flimsy out of the box. Solid hardwoods like acacia hold up well but generally cost more and need occasional re-treating.