Zap,

How long is your commute? I don't think I've ever shifted 100 times on a ride, even on a 170 mile ride or long rides in the North Georgia mountains where it ranges from flat to 25% grades. I think you need to start riding a fixie & get over that shifting obsession.

There is a young guy that rides in fast groups here that is one of the most annoying persons to ride behind. He is shifting constantly & can't adjust his cadence fast enough to keep the speed consistent. I don't mind variations in speed, but he's trying to keep the same pace. He's yo-yoing constantly. I think I need to lock out his rear deraileur before a ride one morning! Best people to ride behind are those that seldom shift & particularly those that have a lot of experience riding fixed.

Seriously though, I love down tube shifters & hate brifters for some of the reasons mention previously. One additional thing I love about them is the extremely short cable length. Makes shifting very precise & reliable especially in bad weather.