Having recently moved from a alu fork to a carbon fork, it will have to be carbon for me. Smoother feel, I picke dit up for £20 in my LBS brand new with a 1" steerer, theay are out there but you have to look, a little harder now.
i switched to a 1" full carbon reynolds ouzo pro from an EL-OS welded unicrown and the difference was remarkable. way lighter, and somehow both stiffer (torsionally) and more compliant (vertically). the high-frequency buzz (think tar & gravel/chip-seal roads) just disappears.
highly recommended.
true temper / alpha q make excellent 1" forks as well.