The modern cast aluminum “hot rod” wheel in the picture I posted is loosely based on the wooden Model T wheel.
The Model T wheel was based on a late horse-drawn era mechanical wagon wheel called the “Sarven” wheel, patented in 1857; wooden spokes and segmented-rim “felloes” coupled with a steel hub. The savings was in the hub, both weight and fabrication time.
Prior to the Sarven design the hubs were turned from solid wood and the indivual spokes fit into hand-cut mortices in the hub. Hub diameter for a 36-48" diameter wheel was around 10"
I suspect that most wheelwright hated hubs too.