[TheForge] anvil base

[Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer]

I suspect the question boils down to how often you move your anvil.
If you are constantly carting it hither and yon, a nice rigid, light weight stand makes sense.
If you forge at your anvil a lot and seldom move it, a dense, hardwood (or solid cast or steel)
stump means a lot less hammer work in the long run.
Try heavy forging with your anvil on a well fitted and bedded hardwood stump,
VS a light weight anvil stand.
You can feel the difference.