The best material for a bike is the material on the bike which you enjoy riding. Opinions about quality of material aside, if you enjoy the bike and enjoy riding it then nothing else matters. That said, my bikes are steel. Not the latest, nor ever the greatest, but I ride. I have rode a carbon for about 50 miles, I didn't find anything special about the ride. And I have rode aluminium. For the price, put a decent groupset on the aluminium and ride. Frankly to me it has more to do with having to have the latest and greatest. A bike which fits you and has good working mechanicals will get you a long way.