I am beginning to feel better about including steel in my frame search and have discovered that Masi and some others do make some steel frames that will accept a modern 10 speed wheel. But I was also operating on the assumption that steel would be considerably less than it is turning out to be.

Not out of line but in most cases more than I expected. It also seems as if for me finding the frame I want to start with will consume as much time as the build may. I may have to start looking at garage and estate sales and maybe thrift stores. This build may turn into a quest. Right now the material may become secondary.