Total snob here, not gonna lie. In fact I realized it the other day when I was at the bike co-op. They had a 531 trek there that I very nearly bought. I rode it around the block, and it rode completely fine. When the guy there asked me what I thought about it I mentioned that it would need bar tape, tires, stem and handlebars, deep cleaning, etc... He looked at me like I was crazy and was like, dude, the bike is totally rideable as it is! This experience and my obsession with dura ace pretty much confirms it.