Fenders? not sure yet.
Better to "have and not need" than to "need and not have". Minimal weight penalty.
How much of a difference does steel frame compared to aluminum really make?
No rusting. Alum has a little stiffer ride. Steel flexes more when you hammer, usually not in a bad way. The Tricross
is very nice. I don't like that the Salsa and Masi have unneeded braze on's.