Originally Posted by
mylesau
The above doesn't include the extra weight of the longer chain, the 2 extra front cogs, front derailleur, and the extra gear lever of a typical derailleur equipped bike - it's closer than what the above suggests.
Unfortunately, you can't have your cake and eat it, too: if you want an Alfine-based system to have the same spread of gears as a derailleur based system, then it's going to need a front derailleur, chain rings, and shifters. Conversely, if you want the derailleur based system to be restricted the same span as the Alfine you can drop the FD or at least some of the chain rings.