Barrel life is just something you have to deal with when it comes to these big magnums. But, a lot of guys don't shoot enough to even worry about it. And if you load your cartridges on the light side for regular shooting, you've easily increased your bbl life.
When it comes down to it, performance is performance. The STW is one flat shooting mofo, and it takes advantage of the 7mm bullets that are, for caliber, more aerodynamic than the 30s and still tough for big game.