Welcome to Just Commodores, a site specifically designed for all people who share the same passion as yourself.
for weight reduction..
too brittle.
Masonite is, without a doubt, the best for door trims and kick panels, I have used it since the 1960's.
Do not use mdf or chipboard (almost the same product), it swells and falls apart with water, whereas Masonite can get wet and it will not bother it.