Well, it is possible that if rare and expensive metals become dirt cheap, new exotic alloys may be developed that were previously economically inconceivable. I

Well, it is possible that if rare and expensive metals become dirt cheap, new exotic alloys may be developed that were previously economically inconceivable. I don't know how likely this is. I imagine plenty of research has already been done on exotic alloys, however I wonder how much that research has been affected by economic constraints.