Our roads up here are poor at best. Lots of cracks and shifting. My Rove with 35c tires does a good job of smoothing things out. I wouldn't expect any road bike with skinny tires to produce a similar ride, regardless of the frame material. For me, comfort has more to do with body position. While my lower back flexibility has improved with more riding, I am not flexible enough to ride in an aggressive position for long periods.

My budget is around $1500-2000 if I were to buy another bike. The money isn't burning a hole in my pocket though if I don't spend it. I'd just rather not spend a few hundred dollars on a set of wheels only to realize I should have bought another bike instead.