There are heaps of 'major manufacturers' making ti - you're just not looking hard enough. Your local LBS - in essence a 'dealership' if shops in the US are anything like here - is hardly going to give you a worldly review of the Ti market.

Ti being a metal and a natural spring can indeed have a similar ride to steel, and if you like the feel of steel there is little reason to consider the latest 'five sizes fits nobody' carbon wunderfahrad.

I won't go into my opinion of cheap Ti too much because people will get upset and feel inclined to defend their purchase with the fervor nornally reserved to religion, so the best I can suggest is that if you like Ti, get a good US made one.

And get one that actually fits