CaseyI bought a pair of Dukes a few years ago. My internet research of specs and reviews showed no clear winner in the beefy frame binding category between those. My intended purpose was a slack country powder ski / day trip touring that I could ride inbounds like an alpine ski and not have to make weird decisions about what skis to pack and bring 3 pairs of skis with me to the mountain or plan on switching skis at lunch or whatever. It kind of surprised me how hard frame bindings became obsolete. I’d like to get a tech set up but I don’t think many people are rocking tech bindings inbounds and the amount of serious mountaineers that require the weight savings seems relatively low to me. Who knows
A few years ago I'd have agreed with you. There weren't really any tech bindings with the safety characteristics and durability to ski inbounds. I did the same thing and bought Guardians. They were fine then, but a lot has changed since then.
Atomic / Salomon's Shift is literally what you are describing, it's a touring binding that's as safe and reliable as an inbounds binding. I'd argue it's the true frame binding killer, not tech bindings.
Second, where you live really affects how many people you see riding tech bindings inbounds. Here in the Tetons we see a lot. In other places, with less backcountry or side-country access, you'll see less. That said, riding a tech binding hard inbounds every day is stupid. That's how you break bindings, or your body.
Third: It's not all about weight. In fact, in my opinion, it's barely about weight. Tech toes allow you have a much, much more efficient stride. By bringing the pivot closer to the ball of your foot where you'd usually pivot while walking you can have a much more natural stride uphill. It also allows you to be more precise and in control when side-hilling and kick turning. If you haven't ever walked in a tech toe, it's hard to understand how much of a night and day difference it is. I went from skiing a bunch of volcanoes and stuff in Glacier on frame bindings one year, to buying a tech binding the next season, and I wouldn't even skin the bunny hill at the ski resort on a frame binding anymore. Tech toes are just way, way more efficient.
