Sort of depends on the look you want. If the bright, reflective quality of Chrome is what you want there is no substitute...........yet. Powdercoats look good in their own right and are durable and, imho, are easier to maintain in the long run than chrome. If you're mixing parts that are polished stainless in the same area, chrome would be a closer look. Hydrogen embriddlement is an issue, all the more reason to find a quality/knowledgeable plater instead of one of those "gypsy" swapmeet types who may or maynot know what to do. If the plater bakes off the hydrogen it's no longer an issue, but that's an extra step that the quick and dirty bumper specialists can't and won't do.

One more note for either plating or powder coating, make sure you plug/mask, or insist at your direction, any threaded or tight clearance holes. Saves a bunch of headache later at reassembly.

One more option is coming on, vacuum metalizing. This is a variation on how plastic parts have been plated in the past, and has some similarities to powder coating. By chance the guys a Rod & Custom (see the Dec 06 issue) have just put up an article on the process. Looks very promising and doesn't have the hydrogen embrittlement issue.