One problem with UHMWPE is it's slippery, so hard to glue to a rigid composite. Also, don't count out the path dependence of even very competitive industries.

One problem with UHMWPE is it's slippery, so hard to glue to a rigid composite. Also, don't count out the path dependence of even very competitive industries. They know carbon fiber, so that's what they use, and they then make small increments from their known territory.