Metal losses significantly impact the performance of plasmonic and metamaterial (P&M) structures, and addressing them is crucial for practical applications. Despite decades of research, losses in noble metals like silver and gold remain high in the optical and near-infrared ranges, limiting the effectiveness of P&M devices. While P&M offers promise for applications like surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), it is less effective for high-efficiency devices such as light sources and detectors. Strategies to mitigate losses include reducing surface roughness, using doped semiconductors, employing polar dielectrics in the Reststrahlen region, and utilizing optical gain media. Phononics, which uses surface phonon polaritons (SPhPs), offers lower losses compared to plasmonics but has limited coupling with electromagnetic waves. Combining phononic structures with plasmonic nano-antennas may offer a promising solution in the mid-infrared range. Optical gain can potentially compensate for losses, but practical implementation remains challenging. The future of P&M research lies in developing novel materials with reduced losses, focusing on the mid-infrared region where losses are more manageable. While P&M is not suitable for high-efficiency applications, it can enhance sensing and other processes where lower efficiency is acceptable. Overall, the field requires a concerted effort to synthesize materials with reduced losses to realize its full potential.Metal losses significantly impact the performance of plasmonic and metamaterial (P&M) structures, and addressing them is crucial for practical applications. Despite decades of research, losses in noble metals like silver and gold remain high in the optical and near-infrared ranges, limiting the effectiveness of P&M devices. While P&M offers promise for applications like surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), it is less effective for high-efficiency devices such as light sources and detectors. Strategies to mitigate losses include reducing surface roughness, using doped semiconductors, employing polar dielectrics in the Reststrahlen region, and utilizing optical gain media. Phononics, which uses surface phonon polaritons (SPhPs), offers lower losses compared to plasmonics but has limited coupling with electromagnetic waves. Combining phononic structures with plasmonic nano-antennas may offer a promising solution in the mid-infrared range. Optical gain can potentially compensate for losses, but practical implementation remains challenging. The future of P&M research lies in developing novel materials with reduced losses, focusing on the mid-infrared region where losses are more manageable. While P&M is not suitable for high-efficiency applications, it can enhance sensing and other processes where lower efficiency is acceptable. Overall, the field requires a concerted effort to synthesize materials with reduced losses to realize its full potential.