I think it was Aaron who mentioned that it's not so much the material that matters, but the builder's design.

I don't try to guage a bike's handling, comfort or durability based on what material it's made of.
It all comes down to design, but as far as reliability goes it all comes down to quality control and testing, without which you'll never know what to expect.

I recommend trying as many bikes and adjustments as possible, then try to figure out what it is about each setup that give it it's advantages (if any).
It can be a lifelong learning curve though, I can testify to that.

Most people like what they ride, until they try others for camparison.
I've changed my preferences a lot as my knowledge of bikes (and body) has accumulated.

One thing I believe in is a more rider-forward positioning, as one pursues speed, hard accelerations and climbing.
Being able to stay aero while pedaling at max output off of the saddle, and being able to stay aero without bending so sharply at the waist both point to a more-foreward handlebar and saddle, respectively.

Combine those two features, and your trips through the rolling hills will seem almost effortless compared to a more touring-oriented geometry.
Yet, there's no rule that says you can't combine a more-foreward rider position with a more-relaxed head tube angle for stability, and the only compromise with that is that you won't be able to draft as closely to another rider's rear tire.
I wanted to test that last approach, which is common to many "multisport/tri" bikes, and put this together last week:

I started with a very big (for me, I'm barely 5'10") 62cm frame with a 61cm top tube(!). It came with the long neck, which I slammed down. The seat and head tube angles are both about 72 degrees.

The ride is indeed very stable with the 72-degree head tube angle, but the 115 length stem is about as long as one can use with such a shallow head tube angle before the steering starts to become floppy while riding out of the saddle during sprints and climbs.
The stock seatpost, reversed, turned out to be the only one of many 26.8mm posts that I have here which could put the saddle so far foreward, other than using a cheap straight post with a reversed clamp.
The ride is both comfortable and fast, but not twitchy at speed.
Heck, it's got a 54t chainring, so it's gotta be fast ;-)>