I can't speak to any of the bikes mentioned, but I can say that Cannondale does make a very nice product. They're really solid bikes; pretty stiff frames, but not as bad as you'd think oversized aluminum to be, and pretty good components. Plus, though steel may indeed be real, aluminum doesn't rust from the inside out.

To the heart of the matter, though: people who are saying try 'em out first are right on the money.