Why navies retained wooden weather decks

Why did navies keep laying wooden decking when gunfire could damage it?

Because it cheaply protected the steel deck, resisted salt water, and provided a practical working and ceremonial surface.

Wooden planking could be damaged by gunfire, but that did not make it pointless. It was a relatively cheap sacrificial covering for the structural steel deck beneath. Suitable timber also stood up well to salt water and provided a usable surface for ceremonies and daily life. The feature combined maintenance, protection, and habitability in an otherwise traditional-looking deck.