Wouldn't change much, but I guess it could be interesting. Otherwise no one really ever tries to get tin equipments, right? well, hammer might be an exception, if the world one's playing in has tin, but why would most players ever go for crafting a tin pickaxe, axe... or a shortsword? shortswords are so useless because of their small range and lack of swing attack anyway, IMO XD...
So, yeah, why not? The shortsword might would get replaced with a wooden sword most of the time in the first 10 minutes of the game anyway, but the axe and pickaxe might stays in inventory for longer, and it could be a nice little change from the usual starting copper gear, I guess.