I own a Soma. Great bike for the money. Better than the custom built Reynolds 531 Franklin I have. Some of us would like to buy a new frames and build it up in a modern way, but still keep it all steel. Surly, Soma and VO are a cost effective way to do that. Lugs and straight top tubes are over rated. I absolutley hate Nervex lugs. Deconstructing a bike and reassabling it with modern parts does not always work out. This is just an easier way of keeping the steel feel without all the hassles that com with reconfiguring a bike.