Personally, I took white for visibility and heat in the summer, even though I know the paint problems. And black is classy, but too hard to keep clean, especially off-road.
Personally, I prefer stainless steel for corrosion resistance, especially if you ride in mud or snow. I have already welded fittings on frame supports without worry, it holds up well. Aluminum can go, but you have to be careful with electrolysis with steel parts.