Interesting thought...
When I built my bicycle wheels, less weight is certainly "more faster" however strength was a concern. 12 spoke, 20 spoke, carbon fiber, ti/steel, etc. Having witnessed wheel failures I always built them the old way...32-36 spoke but with light rims and nipples. A little heavier but much stronger.
Curbs and railroad tracks never fazed me and I never had a failure.
Trekking poles run the same way. My wife's super light poles 'slip' if I put my weight on them on a very steep down hill or climbing. I use converted ski poles, good ones....just a tad heavier but they don't fail or rattle.
So yes, "just enough" is a better way to go at it than shaving weight for sake of it.