Let's talk titanium...

The reason ti is relatively expensive compared to others is the level of workman ability needed to fabricate it.  The cost of the raw material is really not that much more than steel.  But it is a hell of a lot harder to work adn form into a decent frame.

Carbon and carbon/aluminum hybrids are the rage right now, but you can still find really nice ti bikes if you are willing to shell out the cash.

As far as benefits??  Not really much of any one over the other since as long as the bike is designed around the material you can pretty much make any one ride like the other (stiff, light, flexy, springy, etc.).

Yeah, I have one and "love it more than life itself." OK, not really, but I do consider it to be the best purchase I've ever made, and I've made many in 52 years.

Like Rick said, a lot more depends on the design of the frame than the material, but I chose titanium because I loved the ride of the several titanium bikes that I test rode. (stuartjeff, if you think titanium is a dull ride, don't go near a carbon fiber frame). In addition to that, titanium frames are nearly indestructible, whereas CF is brittle and highly susceptible to damage in a crash. IMHO there is no such thing as a "trade up" to carbon. 

I have two titanium frames --

A custom TiCycles Softride rod bike that I've had (and raced in USCF events) for about 10 years now... Dream ride. I also have a steel Paul Barkley Softride of a pretty close configuration, so I have a comparison between the materials to draw from. The ti rides SO much better.

Also a ti tri bike (word was it was originally made for Scott Tinley). Anyway, it's old school round tubes, steep STA, long top tube... And it tracks beautifully. Having been used to riding Softrides, I was skeptical of going to a standard diamond frame for a tri rig, but the ti just takes the edge off everything, and there's no dead feel -- the bike is a rocket. The frame is easily 15 years old...

I got ti originally because I wanted a "forever" frame, and from all indications, it's just what I got. It's pretty much indestructible, low-maintenance, looks good without having to worry about scratched paint...

Personally, if I were to get another bike (okay, not including the junker single speed MTB that I'm cobbling together for a whopping total of $143) it would definitely be ti. But with the rigs I've got, I don't really see myself needing to (setting aside my N+1 soul for a little while).

Ditto. Love my Saber as well. All the same reasons.

Tritto, another Saber lover here.  Granted, all I had was a 20+ year old aluminum roadie to compare it to, but I love love love my bike.  I thought it was just me, but I can really feel the power transfer to the cranks

I have a Blade and feel the same way.  I love it.