Aluminum is actually cheaper to make a bike from than steel once you have the tooling and processes set up.

If you compare a mid-range aluminum bike to a good quality steel bike, the weight difference is small.
If you compare a basic aluminum bike to a basic steel bike the weight limit is more significant.
Many alloys of aluminum have a very high strength to weight ratio compared to many alloys of steel.
Lightweight steel frames (like racing bikes from back-in-the-day) actually have a very high failure rate compared to modern aluminum. You can overbuild an aluminum bike and make it weigh the same as a good steel bike.

Steel bikes can have a springy feel to them as there can be some flex built into them. More expensive steel frames tend to have more of this characteristic as the more expensive steel is made with significantly thinner walls.

Medium width tires can give much more shock absorbtion than any rigid frame no mattedr the material.

Proper design and manufacture is more important than material selection. It is entirely possible to make a good touring bike out of carbon fibre and entirely possible to make a very poor touring bike out of steel. You can also make a decent steel racing bike and crapola carbon racing bike.

If you are at the level where the difference between a well made steel bike and a well made carbon bike is important to you, then your sponsor will be telling you what bike to ride and you don't have to worry about making the choice.