Hi,
As you say Doghouse each to their own. Tastes and circumstances come into it; how many actually love IKEA furniture; I wouldn't have such furniture in our bungalow.
We generally take it for granted that we can pick up all kinds of furniture very cheaply here in the UK including even free furniture but perhaps this isn't the case all around the world and I'd rather have a table made of pallet timber than no table. I would never have a table made of pallets but I don't need to.
Good luck Ms Do it her self; if this is what you want to do; it's better than watching TV and hopefully leads you onto more projects.
Below is a picture of a bookcase I made many years ago when we had very little money indeed; it's made of Meranti offcuts but the shelves are pallet timber from a heavy duty pallet these being lightly planed; sanded then the entire bookcase stained and finished in matt polyurethane varnish; who would know part of it was rough pallet timber.
If the location is South Africa then hardwood is used there for things like pallets?
Kind regards, Colin.