Also remember it has a memory and loses some of its strength from being bent.
Carbon will flex and return with no memory, and pound for pound carbon is much stronger and stiffer.
But when the carbon fails, it fails. I haven't seen one break yet. i'm sure it can happen though.
I did a little research on carbon vs steel vs aluminum, was some interesting stuff to read.
One thing was about the plastic ratings on alloys, their ability to with stand being flexed and its ability to return.
And aluminum ranked lower then steel.
http://www.kastenmarine.com/alumVSsteel.htm
this link is the steel vs aluminum, do a search on the carbon one