Wow . . . we've been so focused on spending your money on a new bike that we haven't really addressed some of the other questions in your original post!

We're all going to have our opinions about materials & components, etc. This is a community where people have a great deal of love for their bikes! Your choice should be shaped by your goals, what you're willing to spend, and whatever else might be important to you with this purchase.

You should feel comfortable that your LBS will spend the time to do a proper fitting. Getting a good fitting will go a long way towards your enjoyment of your bike. Regardless of what it's made of.

Fit was what pretty much led me to steel. As a petite person, a lot of "small" production bikes were too big for me. Or not in stock/available for test ride. When I finally found a bike that fit me, it happened to be steel, and I loved it . . . initially because of the fit, but also because it was such a comfortable ride. Maybe I'll consider something lighter in the future if I fall in love with racing, but that's a decision for another time.

Re: clipless pedals & proper shifting. There's a ton of information available on this board, but also you should be able to talk to your fitter about any questions you have about components. There are different kinds of clipless pedals -- some feel that some types are easier to get in & out of or have a quicker learning curve. I have bad knees and a bad hip so my fitter recommended Speedplay Frogs, and they've worked really well for me.

Finally, I would definitely encourage you to find others to ride with in our area. I still consider myself something of a newbie, and riding with others is a great way to learn!