Help! Carbon bike choices for me?

[ilima]

I need a slack STA to feel balanced...

Yep, for me it's about balance. I owned a tri bike with a steep seat tube angle and short top tube (sold it to fund my current ride, a Merlin). To me a steep STA = too much weight on my hands. That didn't matter when I was riding in the tri position, but it was horrible to ride when not in the aero position.

One 'test' I use is whether I can ride no handed. I can't do it on a bike with a steep STA; my weight falls forward. It's much more comfortable when my weight is on my bum.