as i understand it, the advantages of steel over brass are that it is stronger, stiffer, melts at a higher temperature, and most of all, cheaper

none of those are relevant here

the great advantage of brass over steel is that it's much easier to machine, which is relevant here

if she wanted to use materials to show off, instead of brass she'd use steel, titanium, inconel, nitinol, or granite

i don't see what could be more utilitarian than fun