I think I saw a thread about this at some point in time so my apologies in advance. I can't find it now though for whatever reason and if I recall it did not really ever end in a conclusive answer.
The question is, is there any added "desirability" or "value" to a drum with one one type of hardware over the other. I know nickel was a lower cost option and cheaper to produce, but I don't really see that reflected in comments or sale prices of vintage drums with either type of hardware.
I have a snare that matches my set pretty well, except for the nickel hardware vs. chrome on the toms/bass. It doesn't bother me that much really since the wrap matches so nicely but I still sometimes wish it was a better match and I actually prefer the shininess of chrome.
I know ultimately it comes down to personal preference but I still wonder where the "conventional wisdom" of the experts comes down on this one.