I am happy to be able to say that I really don't have anything to contribute to this thread!

I am fortunate to have 2 things working in my favor:
1) I am fairly new and inexperienced.
2) I have a great LBS a mile from my house with a manager who not only knows bikes but is more interested in making a happy cyclist than a sale. Plus he has a good head on his shoulders. He's smart, experienced and, best of all, he has good common sense.

So, I know enough to know I don't know enough. So, I follow his lead. He has yet to steer me wrong.

... Sometimes you get lucky!