window handles

I see it like Dr Hix, white plastic handles belong to social housing, where you really have to save at every corner. In a single-family house, the first thought is then "cheap."

Yes, I agree. Plastic windows are certainly acceptable for budget reasons, but the white handles are more than awful.

It’s not about shame (which I would also find inappropriate in this context), but about conveying a visual impression.

Plastic windows have undeniable advantages (especially in terms of price), but hardly anyone likes visible plastic in their environment. So, as a rule, people tend to "disguise" it. Manufacturers do this by artificially enlarging the plastic surface at the microscopic level to make it appear matte.
For the same reasons, bumpers and side mirrors on cars are painted, stainless steel applications are applied to electrical appliances, sofas are upholstered with faux leather, or matching corner pieces are offered for clinker tiles.
The idea is to deceive the customer into perceiving a (non-existent) value that they associate with the imitated materials.

I would try to avoid any disruption of this illusion. But of course, everyone can feel however they want about this.


Why is the comparison flawed?

Well, it is simply of higher quality. Visually and also tactilely

Normally, you don't want to make them visible in the window frame ;)

I agree with that. I specifically had the white handles installed, admittedly made of aluminum. So that you can barely see them at all.

but hardly anyone likes noticeable plastic in their environment. So usually people try to "conceal" it.

You are the first person I've heard saying that. Why would anyone want to conceal or hide plastic, at least inside the house? That’s nonsense.

Apparently, several people associate stainless steel with "naturally silver," and plastic with "park bench feel." I cannot understand either: I was a manufacturer of aluminum windows, sold almost exclusively frame-colored handles, and know both materials in surface qualities that I can only distinguish with glasses when they are removed from the frame.

As much as aluminum is personally worth the additional price to me, I would not put all plastic qualitatively into the sack of DIY store rubbish. For example, in terms of softline, some plastic window manufacturers make a respectable effort to move away from the cheapskate image and present visually "villa-worthy" products.