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for radial lacing
radial wheel stiffness is = rim stiffness/(1+(rim stiffness/spoke stiffness)) This comes from the way the stiffnesses add
1/wheel stiffness = 1/rim stiffness + 1/spoke stiffness
If you do the algebra it works out. Spoke stiffness much higher than that of the rim stiffness at least so the bottom term tends to one (this is an edit) hence spoke stiffness is not a major contributing factor to radial stiffness although it will have an impact.Radial stiffness that Halo aero range 32H with rev spokes is going to be pretty high and I doubt it would be higher with 24 comp spokes as you suggested.
This paper make interesting reading if you can follow the maths. http://opus.bath.ac.uk/1418/1/Vogwell_P
Putting actual numbers into the maths though is hard as there are few about which is a shame.
Building with 32 rev spokes rear can give longer spoke life than 24 comps with the same rim. The rim stiffness and bracing angle has a bigger impact on wheel stiffness than spoke gauge or spoke count.
For radial stiffness maths proves that the spokes have almost no influence, it is all dictated by the rim. For lateral stiffness rim stiffness and bracing angles are key, spokes third. You can see this if you build with say a miche hub and an archetype rim in 24h 28h 32h and 36h with laser or race spokes. As the spoke count increases with either spoke the lateral wheel stiffnes does not increase by as much as you might think. With a narrow shallow rim like the open pro which not stiff at all spokes are more important.
So if you want to drop spoke count make sure the rim is of the wide medium depth variety. The halo rim you have picked is narrow I think so I would go down to 24 on the rear unless it is 30mm deep.
My suggestion for a rim is the kinlin xc279 24f28r with laser front and ends rear, race D's rear. This will be a stiff responsive wheel on a wide rim that will last you if you build it right.lace them to a set oif novatec a171f172 hubs or miche. It may cost more than you planned but it will do the job very well.
The bearings in those planet x al30 wheels won't last 500 miles in winter conditions. Same goes for the hubs in all cheap wheels they wear out quickly. Buy cheap buy several times.