i'm one that falls into the category of liking the polymer stocks. oh, i have plenty of the wonderful wooden furniture rifles and i do like them.
but, the polymer stocks are:
weatherproof
easily worked on and repaired using a variety of readily available epoxies and glues
not susceptable to the normal cleaning solvents and oils used in firearms maintenance
doggone near indestructable
may be painted or shaped easily
takes to drilling and tapping and a certain amount of machine work
self lubricating
very, very solid bi-pod mounting (less likely to have stripped threads) and very easy to epoxy mounting hardware into place for bi-pods
less likely to be prone to change POI under damp/hot/cold weather conditions as wood, IF NOT SEALED CORRECTLY, may do
although, if you're into CQB rifles, the M14/M1A, M1 Garand, Mausers, Springfields and even the M1 Carbine etc., that all normally wear wooden furniture, will almost certainly deliver a better butt stoke or bayonet thrust
than the lighter m16 series rifles but how many out there have to do that other than active infantry?
my 700 BDL, Savage 12fv, Ruger 10/22, NEF Sporster, Ruger M77/22 and H&R Ultra Varmint all wear the plastic stocks... i like 'em!