I agree that for band purposes, an ABW (African BlackWood) chanter is a bad idea. Too many opportunities for breakage. (For example, people pulling/pushing/turning the chanter at someplace other than the reed seat. The narrowest part of the chanter is very fragile regardless of the material and the chanter shouldn't be manipulated in the stock anywhere but the reed seat). Plus, from a moisture standpoint ABW is less stable, therefore it's harder to get a bunch of ABW chanters to tune together.

I don't carry my Naill with me most of the time (I don't do solo gigs very often, as I'm still a novice piper), just to keep it safe. In fact, the only time it leaves the house is for gigs and/or the occasional private lesson.