There are pros and cons for whatever type of rod support hardwear you choose.
Carbon - Usually damned expensive, not necessarily as long lasting as stainless. It is light and rather tarty though. If you find cheap carbon, it probably isn't carbon at all.
Aluminium - Basic stuff is usually inexpensive and lighter than stainless. Depending on just how basic it is, it may not last overly long. Flasher alloy stuff can improve dramatically on quality and longevity. It can be pretty expensive though.
Stainless - Good stuff is likely to be expensive and fairly heavy, but last forever. Cheap stuff may well be even heavier and not last particularly well. Some of the stainless steel out there doesn't live up to the name.
Whether you go for single sticks, sticks and buzz bars, or even a pod, is a matter of personal preference. However, consider the banks of the fisheries you frequent. I have gear to make up all three set ups and have no particular preference. However, I still consider a pod to be the most versatile. I've never been somewhere and found I couldn't use a pod. That's not necessarily been the case with sticks/buzz bars. Hard gravel, baked compacted earth, concrete and wooden staging can all be a PITA for bank sticks, though there are ways of overcoming such obstacles.