I really don't think it's worth it, but I'm a part-time student, so that
kind of money is outrageous to me. In Australia, Ouzo Pros and Columbus
Muscles retail for about $550 US -- it's just crazy.

I've only tried two carbon forks (oldish ones), and I find all my 531 forks to
be twice as comfortable as the carbons (sorry Hitcho). Steel forks flex and spring as
you ride along the road, absorbing EVERYTHING. You can see the blades move back
and forward when you go over every little bump. The carbons I've tried have no real
flex. From what I've read, carbon is supposed to absorb "buzz", or high frequency vibrations.
Although, I must say that cornering on the carbon forks I've tried feels like I'm on
rails -- very stable through corners.

A good steel fork weighs about 700g, and crappier ones will weigh 800 to 900g, so the
only absolute guaranteed benefit with carbon is a huge weigh loss; some all-carbon forks
weigh as little as 350g!

I'm lucky enough to have become chummy with my bike shop guys, so they let me try stuff out.
It's worth developing such a relationship.