Although it is true a tubeless tire can be plugged, you have to carry the right tools and some way to reinflate the tire. In addition, a fair amount amount of sudden deflations cause a get-off and that itself can require a tow truck.
With all that said, I've got spoke wheels and love them when they are clean. I hate to clean them and wish they were tubeless but I don't see putting out the money for alloy wheels.
