My preference is wooden frames with wax coated plastic foundation. I like the feel and smell of the wood, and the convenience of plastic foundation. I very much DISLIKE how the all plastic frames torque. Regarding the brace attached to the top of the plastic top bars (regardless if it's plastic or wood above it), it was reported on BEE-L tat a strip of masking tape on to of the top bars works well to dissuade the bees from building brace comb. Haven't tried it myself. There's been nothing new in this current round of Pierco frames that isn't already in the archives. http://listserv.albany.edu:8080/archives/bee-l.html Aaron Morris - thinking BEE-L archives, search 'em early, search 'em often!