I absolutely agree with you on all counts.
However, the non lead thing does fascinate me. I'm sure there are a number of people on this forum who swear by Barnes bullets. I'm not one of them, never tried, as quite happy with my lead ones, but a lot of experienced stalkers swear they do an excellent job.
When you get into the physics of it all, non lead bullets all have a lower specific density than lead. No one has started making bullets out of metals like Bismuth yet to my knowledge. So a 180 grain .30 cal bullet made of copper has to be longer than it's lead alternative to reach the same weight. Length in a bullet is a good thing, offering higher BC's if designed correctly yet retaining the same SD. What's not to like about that.
The argument therefore has to be about penetration and expansion. The Barnes bullets are claimed to retain 90% plus of their weight and I think Nosler claim the same sort of thing for their E-Tip. Penetration is not an issue in that case. They are definitely going through. So the issue must be expansion.
The way the Barnes open up their petals is quite spectacular. Perhaps they don't give quite as much frontal area when expanded as a well mushroomed Partition, but is this a design thing or a factor of the metal used? Could they be improved? Probably.
The only thing I would question is the use of copper bullets in slower calibres. The all copper bullets expand best at high velocity. Fire a 180 grain from a .308 at a beast 300 meters away and terminal velocity is going to be in the region of 2100 fps. Expansion at that speed is not great with a copper bullet. Send a 140 grain down the road from a 7mm Rem mag and terminal velocity will be more like 2500 fps. Expansion at that pace is pretty good so there shouldn't be an issue.
I think we could probably all live with copper bullets, but we will have to go for a light for calibre bullet to get the speed for expansion or typically go for faster calibres if we want to keep the SD. I think manufacturers should have plenty of scope to improve bullet design, both in terms of optimising BC and improving expansion.
Long term I see no reason why we shouldn't move away from lead, IF indeed it is that bad for the environment and our diets, but the bullet manufacturers are not ready yet. Given time hopefully they will be.
Just my opinion. I'm sure there will be a queue to shoot down my logic