Interesting thread for the most part- IMO, I don't think there's much argument that Di2 is functionally better than Force, but the margin between the two is plenty debatable...and in any apples to apples comparison, Di2 is still substantially more expensive than Force. The premise of the original post is kind of funny in that it relies on the assumption that SRAM won't continue to aggressively develop their products, which is silly. I hadn't thought about it much recently, but when I was deciding on which group set to use on my bike last year, I was initially dead set on Red- it was functionally superior, lighter, more innovative, marginally less expensive, and didn't have Shimano's swinging brake levers, which I've never liked much. And then Ultegra Di2 came along, and the only thing it gave up to Red was weight, plus every single review was at least positive, whether "this is good, but it has a ways to go developmentally" or "greatest thing in cycling since (whatever)". So I went with 6770, and have had not a single regret.

That said, whenever (not if, when) SRAM comes out with an electronic group, I'll give it a serious look. SRAM seems like a more aggressively innovative company, much less complacent and conservative than Shimano, and I appreciate that.

And there's still clearly a strong market for mechanical groups, whether that's because a person doesn't trust electronics, doesn't think they belong on bikes, enjoys tinkering/maintaining mechanical groups, are weight weenies, whatever. Choice is good for everybody.