I've ridden alot of bikes, I"m old. There was a time when almost everything was hiten, even alot of nice bikes have hiten stays. One of my 531 Treks' has hiten stays.

Ride-quality wise, hiten bikes are pretty good. The softer steel absorbs shock better. I'm a little partial to a flexier frame, I think they plane better for me and hiten bikes will usually get to swaying under power.

They are going to weigh more, but hey that's why they'll be cheaper.