I agree that steel is worth trying. Worry less about componentry and more about fit and ride quality.

I'm sort of going through something similar. My first bike was a steel Binchi. I put 12k miles in it in less than three years. Then I had a custom ti bike made for me. As you might assume, it cost me big bucks.

On paper, it should fit. Several fitters have worked with me. We've addressed just about every variable we can think of, yet the bike remains painful to ride. My upper body just isn't comfortable. It's a lovely bike, and there's nothing weird about geometry. Still, I'm thinking of finding a new home for it, and going back to my Bianchi.

Good luck with your search.