Quoted:
Which is better metallurgicaly a billet or forging, the lower is machined
from both, the billet cost more due to machine time, the forging is
shaped like a lower.
Neither, differences are larger from 7075 vs 6061 and those are too small to notice. Theoretically you can add featurs and thickness to make a billet stronger but 7075 forged uppers dont break anyway. The advantage for billet is a perfect machining and finish. Its prettier and custom... that is all.
People will say grain structure thais and that for forged but then the forged is machined so the grain structure is cut anyway so its all a wash. The thicker lower will be stronger to a degree that does not matter either way.