More dense ceramic would mean more heat filtering, at least if it's the same material... I'll go with the wooden vaporgenie if I'll decide to make a vaporizer bong... Also if it's not precisely cut it will let heat through. I'm sure it works but I doubt that equally well as the VG, especially with torch lighter.

Altough if one wants to save cash and use bic type lighter I think it will work OK.

Or am I wrong that the filter in the vapo bowl passes more heat through?