i know what he is saying.
 

thus making the structural strength of the metal weaker. while protecting the outside and making it resist abuse more. the metal itself is weaker but i guess i would have to agree with horshu... the structural integrity of the metal in xmods would not be put under enough stress so as to accurately test the structural strength of aluminum *BUT* neither would regular aluminum.
i think that we started talking about anodized and regular aluminum on a much larger scale and on an xmod it simply doesnt matter whether the aluminum is anodized or not.