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DH isn't a poor mans sport really, it can be done on a budget if
your aim is to have fun, but to be competative you should really be looking to take advantage of any new technical developments, considering a growing number of serious privateers now view a DH frame as a single season investment, the longevity of a Composite DH frame might be less of a consideration than it's weight, plus it's fair to say that more "traditional" DH frames constructed from Aluminium only have a finite life especially when used for racing...
I'd disagree that you need a new frame/bike every year to be competitive Ben Reid used to ride a skip circa 06(?) [img] 
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(Image Plucked straight from google)
He did the World cups on it and Didn't do too badly on it. (Probably why he can do well on the Norco...)
Iain
BUT Ben Reid and his father did a LOT of work to that old frame, cutting seat and chainstays, welding a bit extra in and re-heat treating it to lengthen it. New linkage plates for travel settings and as the old ones broke. Welding plate after plate over cracks as they appeared.
He liked the geometry and is very picky about his bike, but it is fair to say they nursed it through a few seasons racing.
True it wasn't a run of the mill production frame but the point I was making was is you don't need a new frame each season, once you have something that you are confidant on there isn't really any reason to change, the bike makes up a very small part of the overall package in relation to the rider.
Iain