I'm not disagreeing with you at all; if you take care of it, the frame will be fine for years. I guess the vast majority of people that buy steel bikes either give them up before rusting becomes a big problem, or just let the rust eat at the frame until its un-rideable. People don't take care: just along Harbord today, I saw a dude hauling his Cervelo through the slush , turned up Clinton, and saw a near-perfect condition Miele locked up to a street sign. Makes me feel for the bikes, really..