Option 4 is to look into buying a "build kit" as opposed to each individual component. These can be simply the major drivetrain components or a complete "everything but the frame" kit. Several of the parts distributors that work with your LBS offer various kits at a significant savings compared to individual components. Most allow a certain number of deletions or variances from the standard kit.

Then again, other than saddle, tires and maybe a crankset swap, I would think the Salsa Ala Carte complete bike would have pretty close to what you are wanting at a price I don't think you could beat. You could ride it with the steel fork and change to the cabon fork later, if you still wanted to.