Flexible Rubber

The difference between a rubber-bodied figure and a rigid one shows up the first time somebody stands on it. A flexible body deforms and returns instead of cracking, which removes the two failure modes small figures normally have, a snapped leg and a sharp edge left behind. That makes these the pieces to send into the situations where damage is likely, water play, a bin full of rice, a pocket or a car seat, so keep the rigid painted models for the shelf and let the rubber ones take the rough duty.