A key benefit of IGHs not mentioned: easy to attach a chainguard to protect slacks. My Nexus 8sp w/Alfine rapid-fire shifter has been nearly trouble-free for three years of daily commutes. The shifter gear indicator rattled, so I surgically removed it with a dremel tool. The chain-line makes for quiet operation. Another plus with the Nexus is performance--you can shift into larger gears under load (i.e., when sprinting away from a stop).