That faucet still has cartridges under the handles, like every other Delta faucet. RP54801, to be exact.
Cartridges are great, as they give you the option to swap out a cheap part easily in order to fix leaks, instead of trying to find the exact size o-ring for a seal, or agonize over cleaning a big, integral part, hoping it's not too worn out under all the build-up.
And plastic cartridges vs metal don't seem to make much difference in my service experience. It's the rubber o-rings that wear out the quickest. Maybe you get scratches, or marred surfaces from hard water, but that's gonna happen regardless. And trying to smooth a brass seat (in an old three handle shower valve, for instance), is way more of a pain than swapping out the rubber seats and springs found on modern Delta faucets.
The plastic finishes, handles, pop-up assemblies, etc. That's what's garbage on a lot of the cheaper options, and foreign brands. People are buying em, though, and it gets harder for us plumbers to get customers or even contractors to stay away from that stuff the more prevalent it becomes. "Oh, but this one I found online is so much cheaper than what your showroom has." Well, great. We'll see ya in two years to change it out again. I suppose it does keep us busy. Lol
/end of rant
