Why would any golfer use cast irons?

It isn't the manufacturing process or the metal used that you're feeling, but the location of the "meat" of the metal. Most forged models are blade/muscleback designs, so more weight is centered on the "sweet spot". It's also why mis-hits, in general, sting so bad and don't fly as well.

If I had to guess, the cast models you used weren't a good fit for you. Having a lie angle, swing weight, total weight, shaft flex, sole/topline thickness, blade length, amount of offset, vertical center of gravity location and/or a mis-fit grip that isn't right for you can effect what you "feel" and the club's performance in your hands. "Sensicore" inserts or wooden dowels in the tips can also have an effect on "feel". You could also have been subconciously sabotaging yourself.. the mind is a powerful tool. This is also why "feel" is the "big boys" marketing departments dream word: it can't be quantified, so they can abuse it all they want without fear of a false advertisement lawsuit.

Swing robots have proven that two clubs of similar specs, the only difference being one was forged and the other cast, perform exactly the same. It's simple physics, not some magical property embued into the clubhead through the forging process. Forged clubs have been around for centuries- it was the only way to make them for almost all of golf's existence- so there have been myths that have somehow become truths develop along the way. Even if it is made from a softer carbon steel, it's chrome plated... which is a hard material. They basically cancel each other out, so that's a wash.

That's why some people play Pings and gush over their irons' "feel". Ping's are almost always cast from 17-4 stainless steel... on the Rockwell Hardness Scale, it's one of the hardest stainless steels used in golf.

As for me personally, I'm a "mind over matter" guy... "if you don't mind, it don't matter" as my old wrestling coach used to put it. I've used forged and cast, from 1020-level carbon steel to 18-8 stainless... if the fit is right, things like "feel" seem to fall into place for me, because I'm usually making more efficient contact.

It's a stereotype that cast irons are more forgiving then forged ones. It just common for better players who rely on feedback and feel to shape shots to play forged blades or muscle cavities, but many companies, like Scratch, make forgiving forged irons, like the EZ-1, or Ping, who makes the S56, a bladish iron which is cast. Its all personal preference and feel. But in summary, the casting process is less expensive then the forging process, so cast irons are cheaper.

Well I used cast irons because they are a bit more forgiving, but actually I do have blades but prefer the cast. They just have a better feel for me.