Meah. I've joyfuly taken brifters off a bike and dumped them on ebay, prefer friction over indexed, have a lightweight 30spd wonder that I routinely overlook for my '80s 25lb steel workhorse, and a 7spd freewheel in the back is more than enough for me. I have 8 road bikes to choose from daily, like the older ones better. Commute on an early '70s hi-ten 10spd.
To the NASCAR mind it's all about maximizing speed and performance. I think not, and you have to decide for yourself. To answer the OP, a wide range gearset, like putting a compact on the front, is definitely a benefit...otherwise I've found very little about modern bikes that improve my riding experience.
Last edited by FrenchFit; 12-13-11 at 10:36 AM.