Road bike recommendations

Nah. It's because there's no market for them. You could make a carbon tourer as durable as a steel tourer - it would probably be lighter too - but nobody would buy it due to all the carbon FUD out there.

This.

My only concern is eyelets such as racks, and whether it'll be fine or not.

Only reason I would go for steel is that it's cheap, look shit, and the unnickability of it.