Originally Posted by
GeorgeBMac
You're sort of forced into buying it if you want top end stuff. Try buying a high quality 7,8 or 9 speed component: They have been relegated to the lower end components.
It is still possible to get extremely high functioning 10 speed in 2014 models. It is not hard to find high functioning NOS 9 speed. It is gonna be a few years before the retrogrouch community is forced into 13 speed because nothing else is available. DA and Record (for that matter Ultegra and Chorus) are high zoot flagship models. It would dilute the brand to offer them in perpetuity in obsolete configurations to satisfy a very small (if passionate) niche within the niche that is cycling.