Two years ago we replaced the steel Jeld-Wen door in our 1996 built home. It was rotting around the base. This was a door with sidelights and elliptical window above. Cost of steel door was around $5700 plus installation. We couldn't find any other dealers/brands that could "fit" the opening in our brick home or were interested in dealing with it. Needless to say even the new Jeld-Wen door didn't quite fit as expected after numerous measurements by dealers before ordering. If you're getting a door with sidelights make sure it's a continuous seal along the bottom. That helps so the dividers don't wick up moisture & rot. We also went with a non-wood product so the dividers won't rot plus it's covered so we'll never need to paint. We went with a factory paint finish on the door that I hated after installation so immediately had an auto body company repaint. We've had no problems with denting in the 14 years of a steel door on any of our doors. I do use a magnetic door plate at the base- ordered from Amazon I think. We have had problems with leaking with both the old Jeld-Wen and the new Jeld-Wen door around the windows when we get a hard driving horizontal rain. Recently I took some auto-sealant around the windows on the exterior to seal any cracks and that seems to have solved the problem. We went with steel because we get direct sunlight from the south and don't have any major overhang to protect the door. We were told the fiberglass would fade and perhaps have more problems than the steel. We were also told not to get a storm door due to the heat build-up. Hope this helps a little. I have no experience with the other brands or fiberglass. Therma-tru was the brand I wanted to get at replacement, but their elliptical was a different shape. In hindsight, I kind of wish we had a fiberglass. We have an oval window that the guys in our house wanted. Now wish we had a full rectangle - it seems to be more modern. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks, BPChill, that's what a rep from the door company told me, but I needed to hear it from a GardenWebber!

They both should be about the same at the end of the day. The fiberglass is nice from the standpoint that it does not dent if you bump into it whereas a steel panel door has that potential. You are probably going to get a bit better finish in a factory finished option, but there is no reason that you can't get a good finish on a primed door with a good painter (this is critical here). The residential paints out there are so good now that they hold up really well if properly applied over a prepped substrate. We wash out door occasionally (not in direct sunlight) and treat it with a kind of quick detailer spray to help protect the paint.

@Mark Bischak If I don't want the tall and narrow look for the entry door, does a 42x96 look more porporional? @todd The entry door is my only opening to move sofa into the living room in case sofa is over 36". I can't do it from back patio door as there's another opening which is limited at 36". I'm thinking I may have an issue with moving sofa if I don't have a 42" opening to the living room.