The reason companies use hi-tensile steel is because it is cheaper, bottom line. Chromoly is a lighter material in a sense, because they can use less of it and still have it be stronger than hi-ten. Low end bikes are made with hi-ten steel. It may last you awhile, or it may not. I know people who have ridden low end frames for awhile, but they usually end up broken in one way or another. The good thing about the Launch is that the rest of it is composed of decent components, so if a couple years from now you need a new frame, it won't be too big of a deal.