In my experience most of the people I know using steel strings are playing alot of Appalachian style music. I started off with steel strings, while taking lessons from a well known appalachian musician in the area. He also told me that he played a lot down south around the eastern part of Texas. Although I love the music of my heritage, and will continue to learn all I can about it I really don't like steel strings.

I'm sure others will chime in with their experiences but the only people that I personally know using them are a older people, who use steel strings to achieve a strange harmony with other fiddles or guitars that to me often sounds out of tune and terrible, but I see what their going for. It's just the style of music; probably has something to do with immigrants coming to the area years ago with violins lucky enough to be operational.

You might like Helicores!... this would probably be a good way to sort of meet in the middle. If I remember correctly they are a synthetic string with a steel core.

Quick break in time, cheaper than a lot of strings, characteristics of both steel and gut.