I dont think it needs much scrubbing - just leave the nitro on for a while and then wash the paint away.
The finish is lacquered at the rear end - since the whole frame is lacquered after the front end has been painted.
Nope, thats the state the frames are in before theyre painted. They are ball burnished (think Coust) and then the paint goes on. Expensive to do, yet they still come out at £249. Tells you something...
*ding ding ding* Correct! The ZR9000 Trek frames have stuuupidly thin tubes.
However, thats not to say you couldnt have the same weight frame (same thickness tubes) and make it 15% stronger :D (compared to whatever industry standard aluminium is... id guess at 6061).
Probably not cheap. Thats my guess.