Is the substitution of copper a viable pathway for sustaining global electrification? In the face of a projected supply deficit, the discourse surrounding technological alternatives frequently conflates tangible advancements with laboratory-stage hype. This article dissects the four prevailing substitution regimes, spanning from large-scale aluminum deployment to sodium-ion batteries and nanomaterials, to demonstrate that while substituting copper is partially feasible, it does not resolve the underlying systemic constraints. Rather than eliminating our strategic dependencies, substitution merely transforms them across the resource spectrum.