Originally Posted by cat0020

The advantage of titanium is that it lasts longer than most other frame materials, requires no paint, requires little to no care.
So if you want a bike that last as long as you can pedal in your lifetime, ideal candidate would be titanium.

Stiffness to weight ratio is a highly personal preference.
Ride quality of carbon frames can very drastically between one carbon manufacturer vs another.
The inconsistency and variable in quality just among one single model within one manufacturer can also be drastically different.


AFAIK, whether specific product makes it from the cycling pros to the masses is highly dependent on the success of the pro team and exposure among regional /international races.
For bicycle manufacturers, sponsoring a team with equipment can produce sales, but the budget vs profit are usually highly guarded secrets.
The bigger the manufacturer, the more likely that the pros will riding something that's available to the masses to promote exposure and sales.