Well actually, there are a couple of recent posts on here where users of the new STIs have found their shifters have stopped working, with a bit of metal hanging out behind the lever (both of em left levers, I think). It looks to be part of the articulation transferring the shift to the mechanism in the lever body - definitely not something a cable swap would fix. STI = crap.

I haven't worked on anything but 8spd Ergos, but since they operate on the same principle they always have (did that Ultrashift or whatever change the picture much? I doubt it), I'm pretty sure they're still quite service-friendly.

Just a damn shame Campy stopped selling small parts; you used to be able to get just about any little whatsit as a (costly) spare... they're still better than Shimano in that regard though, AFAIK.