A (forged) 340 Crank is Not a (forged) 273/318 Crank?

Forged is steel. Cast is cast iron.
I don't think that's quite true. Look at the link Jadaharabi posted. Casting is still done with Steel. I am not a metallurgist, but iron alone does not have the strength or harness that a crankshaft requires. I believe a crankshaft needs to be steel alloy of some kind.