Steel drawplate vs carbide drawplate

I’ve been slowly accumulating my Christmas money and I’m almost ready
to spend it.

I’ve gotten some rave reviews from a couple of people in my town
regarding the fine silver jewelry I made, especially with respect to
the French ear-hooks I made from 22 gauge fine silver wire, because
those people who could not ever wear jewelry before were able to wear
mine.

So I think I am on to something. Eventually I can work with sterling
like the big boys and girls on Orchid, but for now I think there is
still a world to explore as far as transforming Silver Valley Sunshine
Mine commercially pure ingot into wearables are concerned.

Which implies I need more ear wire. I’ve got my Contenti compact
rolling mill, and it works fine, except that it puts sharp edges in
the wire and so clearly I need at least one drawplate.

My question of the moment is this: if I have $100 to spend (free
shipping to make it fair), which door should I take:

Door #1: A single tungsten carbide drawplate which will help me make
a life time of ear wire and round frame (and I can hammer it flat for
strip),

OR

Door #2: Spend $8 on a carbon steel drawplate, so I can spend money
on more consumables to get a jump start this coming spring?

Just HOW much will a carbon-steel drawplate last me for small gauge
wire? A year? A month? Enough to give me some room to maneuver? Or do
I have to take the hard road and get the most durable product I can
get immediately?

Monty Hall, eat your heart out.
Andrew Jonathan Fine