why hardboots?

Given that I'm fairly happy with the way I can handle groomers on my Carbon Circle
(thinking about Channel Titanium for the next season, just need to find one on sale) ,
in my softboot/strap binding setup, what's in it for me in a hardboot setup?

Usually I ride "the whole mountain", maybe with some variations based on
weather/snow conditions. If there's lots of powder I'd go for steeps, chutes,
trees. If it's icy I'd be carving up groomed blue/black runs. If it's something
in the middle, I'd be doing all that plus steep moguls. I'm also always on a
lookout for a good natural kicker (Baker and Whistler/Blackomb are goldmines!).

I guess the extreme carving thing will entertain me for a day or two, but then
I'll get bored with it 'cause it's not challenging enough and there seems to be
not a lot of space to progress into.

Given all that, would you recommend trying a hardboot setup? If yes, do you
also recommend getting a racing stick, or I can just use my existing board?


Oh yea, another related question: why are step-in bindings so unpopular?
It seems like they have the advantage of easy mounting once off the lift, plus
I would imagine the whole setup is a bit lighter and also potentially more rigid
than the usual strap binding setup. So why is it that most good riders stick
with either strap bindings or hardboots?


PS: the last Sunday was the first day I've tried to ride in the rain. It was fun for the
first hour or so. Myself an me friend were just about the only ones riding the back
side on Stevens. Everything seemd like a slow-motion movie, as if we were
riding on wet sand or something like that. Very weird. Oh yea, Arcteryx Minuteman
Gore-Tex XCR pants and Salomon Somatic jacket are the **** - I was completely
dry after three hours out in the pouring rain, well worth the $320 I paid for both.
Gotta love the end-of-season sales..