I've never had the plastic. I purchased wood just because I thought having wood would be cool! As far as bending the flex track I can do it easily now, but you do have to practice. The best piece of advice that was given to me: have patience and bend it slowly and gently.
I start by placing the flex track against my chest and bending it around my torso.
You can see a video of the sharpest curve I ever bent on my Youtube channel! A 24 diameter reversing loop used to turn snow equipment. Who said O scale takes bigger curves than HO? That curve is 12 radius!