My neighbor is 6 feet tall, with lonnnnnnnnnng inseams (we look like Mutt & Jeff together), and she got a Giant OCR-something that fits her well. I prefer steel frames also, but she's been very happy with her aluminum-frame Giant. She might have gotten a deal on a model year leftover, but I know she paid well under $1000.

Sounds like you need to go your LBS and do some test-rides.