>> am told it weighs next to nothing and is VERY durable.

Guy next to me on the beach uses this on his 160 sq. (literally an widened A-cat with more mainsailarea) and is very happy with it. It also makes the alu feel less cold (quite nice in the cold first months season). Anodising is lighter but apart from that is fine.

Anodising also protects the inside of the beams to corrosion (if it is a new tube), powder doesn't as it is only done to the outside. However 2 - 3 mm ( 1/12 - 1/8 inch) alu doesn't seem to degrade much over time.

Wouter