Keep in mind that some SS that *WILL* rust... don't recall the designations, ran across them 20 years ago working in VERY damp conditions.
RE: the hardness of SS... was rehabbing some equipment and decided to bling it up with a SS control panel (previous AL looked horrible after a few years of chemicals/wet/etc). Found a SS kick plate designed for the bottom of a door = huge mistake when it came time to cut/drill that pig! Didn't have any methods of cutting it outside regular cutting tools and took a @#$%^ week (cut to size, 10 1/4" mounting holes, & 3 dozen control holes) 
Used a BRASS kick plate (polished & coated) for the next 3! 
