i guess it really comes down to a matter of what classical female singers have to face in terms of range. it makes sense to sing in 'that' voice as 'that' voice can handle that kind of range so much more easily than what might best be called the 'speaking' voice.
as far as what is healthy is concerned, i have had a number of older female students who exhibited pronounced wobbles. everyone of them had been singing in 'head' voice their whole singing lives. as soon as i taught them how to sing in their 'chest' voice (or what i prefer to call their 'speaking' voice) and mix into their higher range, the wobble disappeared, instantly. none of them looked any younger but, they all sure sounded younger.
however, i'm not sure that what i suggest as a healthier way for the female to sing, would ever fly in an opera. the style is what it is. but, in a choral situation, where some of the parts are actually quite low, it might be best to use whatever voice is strongest at a given range.
mike
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