I have to disagree, the newest generation Shimano shifters feel much more positive mechanically, less "delicate," just plain better than the last generation. Not to mention the much cleaner setup with both cables under the bar tape. We jokingly refer to the older generation Shimano stuff, with the exposed shift cables, as "caveman shifters" in our shop. Obviously we still see a ton of it and will for years to come, and it's all pretty good.