I've read so much about oil over the past couple years that I've forgotten 95% of it. Of what I did retain, I decided my new Runner was only going to see synthetics. It just kept coming back to that conclusion, forum after forum, thread after thread.
Of everything he said, he stressed that the most wear occurs during start-up, and that synthetics just do a better job protecting at start-ups.
Being a bottom-line guy, this is what I care most about.
There are so many other reasons, the details of all I have forgotten about, to use synthetics. (Another is certainly better heat resistance & ability to suspend containenants - see, I do remember a couple things after all! LOL)