I have a 1987 Trek 8000 Aluminum that has 100,000+ miles on it -
Including brutal, loaded-down touring on dirt & gravel.
Plus I'm a big kid - 190 lbs.
Maybe I've been lucky. Maybe Trek still made their bikes in the U.S. back then.
But I would never trade in the solid feel of an aluminum frame for spaghetti touring - - ever.
YMMV