You see, Jeff?
Now there'll be an angry mob of "tradionalists", who want not only to fish with a float, but study the play of light on its curves, upload its photo for others to coo over, and run bands of pointless open-turn whipping along (presumably because they saw it on ebay, so it MUST be true)...
In defence of cork - and this is going to be a struggle - it doesn't need varnishing, which is why one of the Ashursts used to carry a few cork bodies, so they could quickly change the buoyancy of a waggler;
-it's tough, so it's better than balsa or pith in the sort of speed-fishing where the float is going to get bashed against the rod-rings (the first time you crack a float that depends on its varnish can spoil your day, as you strike at bites that aren't bites, and gradually take more and more shot off, baffled as to why you'd need to, 'cos it was fine when you plumbed up...
- it doesn't ake as much shot as balsa, which can help if you need the float as a casting aid, without having too much shot downstairs;
-and finally, it's traditional, innit?! A float is more than a bite indicator; it's your souls guide to the world beneath the water - would you really trust balsa? Have you seen what can happen to model aircraft?
Smirking but amicably light-hearted emoticon here, please...