Thanks for all the advice. Had I known 3 years ago what I know now, I would have went for 3x8 with bar end shifters. Most roadies I know recommended 105 and 10 speed because it is "future proof" - like you said - parts availability etc.
In the mean time I had a left brifter broken and was very hard and expensive to get another one - cost over 100 euros.
I got an offer to swap the groupsets from a guy who competes. Got me thinking. Still haven't decided.