Oh, I hadn't realized the Las Cruces was also a sub 3 lb scandium frame. Looking at big pics of both it and the Chili, it looks like they have roughly the same size tubes. I guess the Chili might not be flexy after all (oops)
I agree w/ you about Van Dessel likely picking the frame out of a Taiwanese catalog. The carbon stays especially are a telling sign, since in my experience there are three types of frame with carbo stays:
1. Small production volume, high $$$ frames where the builder actually makes their own stays (rare).
2. Frame builders that order pre-fab stays and incorporate them into their own unique frames. (sometimes really great frames, sometimes not)
3. Bike companies that pick one from column A and one from column B in the Taiwanese bike frame menu. (e.g. Nashbar, the new "Motobecanes", etc.)