I like DT shifters... but I don't race. I do ride fast, often pace-line, and ride in the fast group rides.
I ride a 51cm bike, so it's not a far reach for me, and I have learned to shift well... my fingers do the indexing for me (shifters are friction). If I put my hand on my top tube I can use my middle finger to flick through the gears as a accelerate.

If I were doing crits, yeah, brifters for sure. I mean, you can't shift while in a standing sprint with DT shifters. Climbing hills might require a LITTLE more forethought also. But just road riding, it's whatever you are comfy on. Some people don't like taking a hand off the bars. I have ZERO problem riding one or no handed.


I do ride clipless though