Regarding the "sharp" painted lugs vs. the blurred powder coated lugs:
Yes, it can happen, and just did on one of mine, a powder-coat over chrome. The coater did it twice because he made a mistake.
I'll live with it, because I plan to reduce my rotation to 4-5 bikes and plan on this bike getting a lot more use. I need the durability.
However, "blurring" the lugs does not always happen. I'd put this $60 job vs. the $340 I spent on painting one, any day.
The $280 saved can buy a pretty nice set of wheels.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...onman-frameset.
I guess I'm trying to make these points:
1-The PC can closely approximate the paint for sharpness on the lugs.
2-The PC is a lot more durable.
3-The cost savings on PC can make or break the decision. $300-$400 is often enough to simply buy a better frame.
4-Painting is definitely worth it if you think the frame is worth it.