NOTE/EDIT: I am not looking for a bike recommendation, just some help in comparing frames and components. Thanks and read on....

(to keep from getting IButsfn00b), I apologize for the non cliffnotes intro:

Not new to biking, but new to ssfg and component selection (just rode what I had, fixed it when it broke). looking to get into ssfg, and have done too much reasearch, now confused beyond belief.

Will be using the bike to replace a trek 7300fx (that I hate for ride quality and hand position) for commuting and weekend rides with the wife. average ride will be 10 miles or less, generally. Form and function are both important, and I would like to satisfy both my aesthetic and "joy of riding" sensibilities with my ssfg purchase.

Dont have enough time or energy to commit to a conversion right now, and I would rather ride than wrench, so I am looking at buying an OTP ssfg, for $700 or less.

The questions I am having a hard time addressing, with searches here, sheldon's site, and google in general, are as follows:

1. Better to buy one of these budget OTP bikes for the frame or the components? the "build a better bike than the paddywagon" thread seems to put components first, but most Mercier purchases are happy that they got such a good fram that they can upgrade later on.

2. If frame, how much difference is there in the steel (4130 vs 520 vs dedacciai), or is geometry more critical to ride comfort than the material?

3. If component, is there an easy way to determine the caliber of componentry on a bike (comapring zen messenger to Truvative to the various sugino cranks, or headsets, or hubs, etc...?)

I originally saw a kona paddywagon, rode it, and loved the ride. I dont like the color scheme, and I am not a big fan of the sloped TT, nor the whisker thin front fork. The kilo TT and IRO MV have great looks, but I cant ride one before buying, and especially in the case of the Kilo, the componentry is oft criticized.

Thanks in advance for any help, advice, weblinks or flames