A 10 meter long 40 cm diameter copper pipe is quite heavy. If you have to dig the asphalt to fix something it isn't that difficult to bend or perforate. Sure, you'll break a plastic pipe as well in that situation, but that is quite an easier fix.

Regarding how long they last, to be fair I have no idea. I'd imagine a PVC pipe can easily last some 30 years, I don't know whether a copper pipe will last much longer. It could be I guess. What I can say, when I had to deal with copper pipes I was just happier to replace them with plastic pipes; much easier to work with. Want to take a section of the piping off to check what's wrong? Very easy with plastic pipes, will take you a couple minutes without any tool. If you want to do the same with copper pipes most likely you have to cut them and then solder them back or attach them with some kind of fitting.

[–] zalgotext@sh.itjust.works 2 points 23 hours ago

I don't know whether a copper pipe will last much longer

I do. My house is nearly 70 years old, and still has the original copper piping throughout. I replaced some recently because I had to move things around for a bathroom renovation, but all the old stuff I took out was still in perfectly fine condition. I expect the rest of the copper in the house to last another 70 years.

Want to take a section of the piping off to check what's wrong? Very easy with plastic pipes, will take you a couple minutes without any tool.

What kind of plumbing are you doing that lets you use threaded joints on everything? Anything under pressure usually requires glued slip joints, and those certainly can't be taken apart without tools, or without having to use a fitting to get it back together.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 1 points 1 day ago

Ok you're talking a very different beast. Copper doesnt work at that scale.

I have copper for mains, but the irrigation is HDPE. Because one of these will face more interference and potential damage than the other.