Steel is an alloy that can also be cast and forged, just as aluminum alloy can be cast and forged, into shapes that would do a better job of suffering lateral loads. But I don't know of anyone making cast steel wheels for cars. It is simply cheaper and easier to make them from stampings.
Steel can also be quite brittle, depending on how it is alloyed. Comparing "steel" wheels to "aluminum" wheels is an apples/oranges comparison because you are not comparing metals of known alloy.
I have also had aluminum wheels straightened after being bent, and I have had one bent sharply enough to crack the rim, but it, too, was repairable. On the other hand, I have had steel wheels bent sufficiently that they could not be straightened.
Hot rolled mild steel is more malleable than cast aluminum, which supports the general notion that steel wheels can be field repaired, and so they can for the most part. However, a sharply bent steel wheel, even if hammered back into round enough to hold air, will have been structurally compromised to some degree. Just hammering on the metal will change its molecular structure, and will usually make it more brittle. I would make no assumptions about the usefulness of a field repaired steel wheel based only on the fact that it is made of steel.
I believe it is a matter of personal preference which type wheel you use, but I would suggest that whatever you choose, choose one that is rated to carry the load you have, and then some, if you take your vehicle off road, and stay away from bling-oriented street wheels, as these are usually not made to take the side loads and stress that off roading produces. Consider that we often spend a great deal of time looking for tires that have load ratings of 3,000 pounds or more each (D and E rated), then mount them on wheels that are rated for half or two thirds of that load. There is no sense in this.
