I found the reclaim mechanic to be a bit immersion breaking in 0.3. I mean, how do you decraft a wire into more metal than you had before to make a metal plate for a blade? Reclaim also reduced the uniqueness of other creatures in the world - maybe the bound have smiting techniques I cannot mimic, which is why I can't make the metals they can. The fact I have to use automation/bound components in the shape I get them makes the world feel more grounded and alive.
I enjoy this step away from gamification! Keep it up!
People have been melting down metal good to make new metal goods since Copper tools hit the history books. It's called Recycling and it actually works. The fact that you only got 1/5th of the actual metal mass back in reclaioming was already unreality at work.
I miss it for certain things, It'd be nice to repurpose the automaton parts into whatever type item you'd like... though it was Way Too efficient in the last update that's what led to the exploits. it should always take at least 1/3+ more to re-smelt it into a fresh ingot. for gaming use I'd say 3x the original amount created from an ingot to 1 ingot created would be better to prevent issues.
as to your example with wire - well you take the wire (120-130% of the final ingot weights worth), put it into a crucible add a bit of Flux and heat it until it melts, skim off the Dross, then pour it into an Ingot mold, let cool and now you have an ingot - use to make your new project. there is Always some loss in this process. This is exactly how it's done in real life. there I have done this with copper, brass, bronze, and aluminum in my workshop, though my equipment won't Quite let me cast Iron or Steel.