Especially given the OP's screen name
I have a ridley now so my screen name doesn't match up with my the currect day
I don't know where your buddy is hearing questionable reviews, everything I've read about SRAM is gushing and glowing with praise, with the exception of some broken levers many previous product versions ago.
I shouldn't have said questionable/mixed reviews. I meant, he has heard that SRAM is such a different feeling that what he was used to that he isn't sure if he wants to take that risk of trying SRAM to later find out he would have rather stuck with shimano.