As a custom powder coater, I say powder it
many benefits over paint

Durability
reduced cost
over 6500 colors available
can base coat clear coat it
2, 3, 4, stage finishes, Candy's, pearls, metallics
lab metal sux, much better products to use.

We do show quality frames, pieces, parts daily.
we also powder coat, and do body work to car body's

If you have a custom powder coater that has the proper equipment, and training you will not be disappointed.

pre treatment is everything, just like painting
Ideally your coater will need to..
1) blast metal to remove rust, and profile surface
2) D/A frame to remove any metal distortions
3) Iron Phosphate chemical pre-treatment
4) Add filler, and D/A sand to perfection (NOT LAB METAL!)
LAB METAL PITS, SHRINKS, AND PIN HOLES IT IS JUNK FOR POWDER COATING!!
5) Shoot base color, block sand entire frame like you would do a skim coat for paint
6) Shoot base color 2nd time, color sand
7) Shoot clear / maybe wet sand and buff

These are show quality steps we take

most people 95% are happy with
blast, sand out, repair major defects, and single, or 2 stage coat, no sanding

With the powders available now, and high gloss powders with flow agents, when curing the powder liquefies, and literally moves across the part, and fixes most minor flaws, with almost no orange peel.

tight areas called Faraday areas that spit out the powder are easily over come by a seasoned Powder coater.

Hopfully I did not over load you, and helped a little