Having recently re-entered the magic community and see the prevalence of paper cards there, I realized that I haven't seen paper cards in a real game for many years now. I think the last time was probably 7-8 years by now (and then only in the less serious home games). Is this an experience the rest of you have as well, that there are mainly plastic cards being used?

Just about all of Englands casino's and and formal private poker rooms have used KEM (Bridge size) cards as far back as can recall. But there were many private games in 60s 70s that were not so formal and some quite big that used paper. The standard though as been plastic for a long time. I guess the private games have become more formal since its been on TV over the years. Monkey see - Monkey do. Cards are used for many games and the public in general are happy with paper cards.
It seems to me.

http://www.kemcards.net/history_of_kem.cfm

Yes, casinos and cardrooms have used plastic for a long time. I should have been more clear, I was thinking of your experiences mainly in home games. And yes, it seems that plastics are distributed with the better chip sets nowadays, which is definately the "monkey see" principle.

I think it interesting that the magic world and the gambling world seems to be different in this regard. Do you see a change in the world of magic in this regard as well, i.e. that the magic guys has to start do more with plastic?

I personally do not like the feel of many plastic cards.
I find that they do not handle as well as paper...but, that may be because I did not start learning with them

I am also amazed that people and casinos prefer plastic because one a card is marked, it stays in play for a longer period of time.

Plastic is less secure for gamblers and casinos.