I agree, as far as the LX hubs I have used. They seem very good. Every time this subject comes up though, someone chimes in and says they have been changed somehow. I like the ones I have used, and most of my bikes it turns out had them on them. I wish one could count on these products as one can on the Phil ones, you like 'em, they are are the same as they ever were.

Butted spokes are a solution looking for a problem most times. If you are building, use them. If you are buying don't worry about it if the wheels you get are straight spoked. I've toured at an all up weight of 350+, and never broken a straight spoke on any of my bikes. Do worry if your wheels aren't to proper tension, and they weren't stress relieved. I like wheelsmith spokes either way. I'd use DT if I had DT hubs.

I'd never go to 32 on any 700 c, though people have gone a lot lower than that. Just don't see the point, or the point to having different counts. I get the idea, why people think it is a good idea, but I don't want to shave a few spokes that much. My current 700c wheels have 40 spokes on them, but as I say, I never broke a straight spoke on any bike, so going up to a 40 count was mostly for fun.