Universal lever bodies and brake calipers are cast and not forged. Castings do not have an noticeable elasticity and don't deform, they fail catastrophically. That doesn't make them a bad caliper or lever base.
Designing with castings is a poor choice of saving money over durability, however.
P1000593, on Flickr
Impact with a car at 21mph
P1000602, on Flickr
Oh and look at the bend of the AL lever! Rolled sheet AL that is formed. It is all AL but the process to make the part can have dramatic difference. Not all AL is alike not only in the process but by the alloy of choice. AL alloys are a receipt of ingredients to get a desired result of mechanical properties based on the application and choices of the engineer. That receipt also determines the manufacturing process, both in the "cooking" of the receipt and the final process to make the end product.