Insight be damned!! Go for personal experience. AKA, ride as many as you can. Ride with other C&V'ers...try their bikes. Then go home and rearrange all your bike/wheel combinations and try em all with different wheels...then go mix up the drivetrains and try em that way....see what makes a difference and what doesn't.

The more I ride the more I learn what matters to me and what doesn't. For example, cranksets all feel the same to me. So I don't stress over brand loyalty....I just get what allows me the gear combos I want...or whatever looks the best Its all the same to me, so who cares! On the other hand, Tires do make a difference to me so I blow what some would consider absurd amounts of cash on rubber.