I also have my own theory of "status pieces" and why they typically do not have laminated blades. I have one non-laminated status piece(Kampilan) that is excessively large...it is very long, blade at the tip is large, and it is way to heavy for slashing...the balance is way off. Now-a-days in this day and age, laminations on a blade are seen as works of art and we now admire them...many fail to realize during that time a laminated blade was not for decoration but was specifically designed that way to last through battles; blade strength and balance took top priority over the looks of nice laminations. Non-laminated blades were essentially uniform with a much larger variety of looks to choose from, plus the fact you can shine them...can't really make a laminated blade shine. As my status piece has shown to have some type of brass mixed in to give off a golden look and hue to the blade. Having a laminated blade on a status piece may have been, not over kill, but to ordinary and typical for a piece that was meant for ceremony and decoration; and to them a laminated blade may have been considered impractical for that use. Even though the handles, scabbards, engravings, and shapes on some laminated weapons may have been elaborately designed; the laminated blades had a purpose, and that was strength above all else...so to me laminations were not mainly used as a decorative part of a weapon.
But thats just my opinion of the limited knowledge I have now.
