Honestly, I would love to put PE rails on my ships. The problem is I have to make them myself. I have done a bit of research on the subject, but just haven't gotten around to experimenting any more than building one of my Mast structures, on a light cruiser, as a PE part. It held up for 8 years too. Some peoples ships shoot too high.
I currently do all my own resin casting, and a friend wants me to try vacuforming since I am using a large vacuum pump for the molding process.
But replacing a length of PE railing would certainly be easier than having to replace all the individual stancions and the restring the railing which is currently what I have to do.
I won't claim to be doing museum quality ships, But I do a lot of photo research for my projects, and try to get them right.
This HO scale, Washington State ferry boat is my ultra scale challenge.
http://groups.msn.com/ModelsandMiniatures/howashingtonstateferryboat.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=104
This would be a nice place start putting in the PE railings.
As most of the railings are chainlink sections in a welded frame.