One thing I've been researching a bit is the use of high-tech synthetic (e.g. Dyneema sk-75, aramid, etc) lines to replace steel rigging. Along with that I'm seeing a resurgence of more sophisticated knot work, splices and lashings, proven over a period of hundreds (maybe thousands) of years. My running rigging is mostly spectra, and I'm planning on replacing most of my steel rigging with Dyneema SK75 (Amsteel, and Dynex Dux).

It's a fraction of the weight aloft and much stronger/lighter/more flexible than steel of equal diameter. Less stretch than steel (if sized for stretch instead of load). Worries about chafe? They drag giant logs through the woods in the PNW and it's the only thing being used anymore for giant ships hawsers. After 5 years in tropical sun it supposedly loses 40% of its strength to UV, and degrades less rapidly after that because it's the outer layer that degrades -- so here in the NE I should be able to up-size by one diameter (to double the strength) and it should last 7 years being conservative. You could rig with simple splices, lashings instead of turnbuckles, and terminate with special lashing terminators or thimbles with conventional load-rated shackles. Less expensive than swedges or mechanical stainless fittings. This technology is moving at a lightning pace. Remember wire-rope halyards? Dead. In 10 or 20 years you'll be thinking of (most) stainless standing rigging the same way.

It's very intriguing, and I LOVE that hinge.