Lorraine, for the most part you are correct, however, there is no good or bad type of lawn rake, only applications are good or bad. For spring leaf clean up, you will want a metal tined lawn rake because of their turf penetration. Leaves that have spent the winter under snow are difficult for the thick tined plastic rakes to pull from the ground. The plastic rakes tend to glide over the grass and their limited flexation prevents them from going down into small depressions. However, in the fall, when the leaves are light and resting on the grass, then the largest plastic rake possible is what you want. The big 32" plastic rakes will clean a lawn very quickly.

What Simon has said about plastic rakes is sadly true in some cases. Some plastic rakes will fail at the handle socket from the taper socket being spread open. The ergonomic bent handle plastic rakes place a lot of stress on the socket and the makers of these rakes have not corrected it in some cases. The plastic is indeed light and there are a variety of good ones. If you want more information about lawn rakes you can find a good amount at my site www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/Outlet/2250/

The reason I know about lawn rakes is because I design them. My most recent design is a metal tined pick up rake. It can be viewed at www.canadarake.com

I hope this helps just a tad.

Thomas Stuart