iashleighx, trying to decide if you should buy a particular bike is not a reason to feel "overwhelmed." Overwhelmed is when you find yourself with a lot of choices, or with a serious problem, and so far your problem is that you've looked at and thought about exactly one bike.

If you like the retro look, especially w/ the downtube shifters, then fine, get that bike, or perhaps the Allez from Specialized, or something similar. However, if you haven't tried integrated brakes and shifters, and so far only limped along with your dad's ancient wreckage, then you don't know what you're missing.