I still have not made any modifications to the section that I bought because I like its original form a lot and can still use it as an anvil for my current needs. If I ever need the flat top and horn of a real anvil, I will probably buy another section, plasma cut the large chunks off and angle grind it to shape. The ringing noise that the rail produces when striking it is quite a bit more satisfying than the damped thud of a real cast iron anvil, but I know that the lack of a ring is a large part of the reason that anvils are generally made from cast iron. The damping properties of its porous structure dissipate vibration quickly and yield quieter impact noises, likely because loud noise can potentially be damaging to hearing and can be a dangerous distraction in the workplace. Aside from that, the complex shape of an anvil is easier to produce through casting than through the shaping methods usually used to form steel. On typical professional anvils an additional steel top, called the face, is installed to provide better resistance to deformation. This is an important feature because if denting does occur, that deformation is transferred to any workpiece interacting with the surface.