Hello again limebluie,
Here's yet another perspective on aluminum rods. It's from another forum, and the author is quoting (paraphrasing?) Bill Miller hisself about the life of aluminum rods.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/messa...eid=1011293411
I guess the bottom line is whether you plan to put enough miles (and/or passes?) on the engine to warrant rebuilding it rather often.
Hope this is at all helpful,
Tom