Are new aluminum radiators better?

Aluminum is actually far better at thermal transfer than brass.

Brass vs. Aluminum: Radiator Thermal Properties

OP, run aluminum if you're not on the OE/Resto kick.
And a good sacrificial anode won't hurt, either.

Let me see, a company that sells aluminum radiators says they are better. I have seen other studies that say the exact opposite. I work in the cell phone industry, analog was MUCH better than digital, but digital is MUCH cheaper, guess which one we use today...