said by ztmike :

I wonder if this new stuff is cheaper?

said by GVI :

I wonder if this new stuff means that people who work with it for years on end won't have shredded hands?

As I understand it (and this is the Global Village Idiot talking here, mind) techs who handle fiber optic cable end up with glass fragments in their hands. Which meant that techs had to retire after X number of years simply because their hands were no longer any good.

(Not to mention the dangers of getting hit in the eye with a loose end of cable.)