The article explains the beneficial properties of tungsten with rad shielding. Tungsten sheilds better than lead. Lead is easier to form to simple shapes (flats, straight forward wraps). It is essentially impossible to form it in to complex shapes. Tungsten has a high temperature resistance, and low deformation under load. Broadly speaking it can be relied upon to stay in the shape it's machined to. But getting in to that shape is very expensive and difficult - an understatement.

I can't explain everything in every comment. You can research the materials if you want to understand the discussion in more context.

Tbh I have no idea how you came away thinking I said lead is hard. "also difficult". "this" is the material that is the center point of the discussion. Context, yo.

We have issues working with lead at work, mostly due to toxicity. Putting a hole in a sheet isn't as simple as getting out the drill, not mechanically, but due to all the swarf that needs to be cleaned up. 3D printing a bolt-on cover would be lower risk than drilling lead, a quicker turnaround than getting a die made and lead cast, and give a prototype that doesn't need to be handled with gloves.

For the right application, there are some good wins here.