I've had a 1x9 and even a 1x7. Great way to go... and you don't have to remember where your front derailleur is positioned. I recently went a step further and bought a Swobo Baxter with a Shimano 8 speed internally geared hub. It's slower than my cyclocross commuter for sure, but it's such a blast to ride I don't care. All the more workout, I figure. And sometimes simpler is just better.

DanO