[stonogo]

The quality gradient between "cheap carbon" and "real bike" is way bigger than most aluminum and steel frames, not to mention all the myraid ways people inadvertantly ruin carbon frames... many of which don't even apply to metal frames. I've seen frames crack because of overtightened QR axles. Overtighten something on a metal frame and you damage paint.

Speaking of paint, if the paint on a carbon bike is damaged, you let in all kinds of new problems from UV brittling to galvanic corrosion (where the carbon meets a metal part). There have been recalls from pretty major manufacturers over glavanic corrosion (which mostly shows up in bottom brackets and the headset-crown interface on forks.

Long story short, carbon fiber is a great material for bike frames and parts! But caring for these bikes is a completely different beast compared to the horrific abuse metal bikes can take. Neighborhood kids will leave their metal bikes in the mud and snow outdoors all winter, then ride the thing to school all year. I wouldn't want to try that experimnent with carbon. It's my preferred frame material, but it's not a low-maintenance one.