I hate gravel, too, for the same reasons everyone has said. I mostly am riding my road bike and if I come across gravel (which usually only happens when I am on my group ride), I get off and walk my bike. I won't take a chance. As Kfergos said, they are not doing it around here; people wouldn't stand for it! They just let roads deteriorate until the money becomes available. Last fall, the town of Harvard repaved quite a few of their roads with something that seemed very bumpy/weird (chip seal? I am not familiar with that), and we were concerned. But, after the winter, it seems fine.
My only complaint with the roads around here is the unending repaving that takes place every summer! Right now, 2 of the main streets in Acton, which I use to get to many places, are stripped down to grooved pavement. It's been 3 weeks and the final repaving has not taken place. I can't ride my road bike on it and when I came upon one of these streets on my Jamis, it was just plain uncomfortable.