I was going to say - OP wants premium aluminum for a bargain price. The fact is, premium aluminum costs >$1000 now, in large part because it’s a boutique thing. Especially for a frameset only, which is usually the domain of the dedicated who will prefer carbon, steel, or titanium. Aluminum is usually a budget option, and a beginner option, and for both cases a complete bike makes more sense.

What he’s feeling is probably like my desire for a 2001 Civic Si - I’d like one, in abstract, but not enough to buy one. In large part because there are much better options for the price now.