Needles, Needles, Everywhere!

So a few days ago I was going on and on about the fabulous wooden needles I got on my shopping spree...which got me thinking about all of the different needle materials available to us knitters...wood, aluminum, steel, bamboo, plastic, and glass.  After a little knitty research, I learned that antique needles were sometimes made with exotic (and endangered) animal materials such as ivory, walrus tusk, and tortoiseshell too (pretty much impossible to find now).

I probably use my bamboo needles the most, they are lightweight and are good when I want my yarn to "hug" the needle.  For fast moving projects that I want to fly off the needles, I always go for my trusty metal needles.  I only have a few pairs of plastic needles and don't use them much, but the rosewood needles pictured below (from Lantern Moon) are my latest obsession...smooth like metal, but with the warmth and pleasantries that wonderful wood brings...simply divine!  So, dear knitters, what is your favorite and why?