In a game setting, the thirst for better equipment is part of what drives players. Using different materials is just one way of representing the things that make one weapon better than another: the weight, the balance, the temper, the way it fits in your hand, the durability, the sharpness of the edge, etc. Whether that's reflected by saying "this weapon is made of mithril" or "this weapon was forged by a master smith (//with level 90 in the weaponsmithing skill)" or "this weapon was made with specification x,y,z in mind" there should be some way to say this weapon is better than that one.
The thing is, a beginning fighter won't be as attuned to the differences, won't be able to see that one sword allows the tricks and maneuvers to be performed better.
I think many activities that sort of pattern applies... you learn on cheap tools and materials, because it doesn't make a difference, and as you learn, you grow more demanding in those tools and equipment, because you begin to realize that there really is a difference. (My personal hobby, photography, this is certainly true... you learn with cheap film and print on RC paper, and then graduate to higher quality films and fiber paper... when I was younger I had the same experience with soccer equipment. Maybe if you're
the best in the world you can play better than the rest of us without the fancy equipment... but you'll be even better with it)
Anyway, that's what I was thinking when I came up with the idea above... *shrug*