Can I say that my experience is verrry similar. None of my LBS want to speak of steel frame bikes, mostly because they don't stock them. In my case, they say that the salt in the air in Miami beach isn't good for the steel bikes. Another store said over the phone that aluminum frames were more a comfortable ride than steel, I asked him this twice just to make sure I got the same answer. I'm narrowing it down though...I think...
Good Luck