The ceramic valve core from our kitchen faucet certainly qualifies for a spot on the bottom flange of the I-beam across our basement serving as a display case / collection area for shop curiosities, mementos, and the like. I am, if nothing else, a creature of fixed habits, because the spot where the core belonged already had one:
The core on the left dates back to the 2016 replacement, so they’ve apparently decided plastic will work fine for the handle socket.
Having the ceramic core fail after two years suggests the manufacturing process needs attention, though. I can still wring the slabs together, though, and they’d need a drop of oil to serve as bearing surfaces.
The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning 
A shame – plastic is NEVER a good substitute to more durable ceramic, brass, steel, etc. I guess that penny that they saved per faucet adds up for them but noe the product is no longer quality.
This might be one of those cases where the plastic makes sense as an interface between the metal actuator and the ceramic core. It’s purely mechanical, doesn’t affect the water seal, might reduce wear on both sides, and (even as a separate part) probably costs less than the large ceramic lump.
That said, the ceramic core itself should last longer than a few years!