The triple thing is now largely academic. I have one, love it, want another one on my next road bike, but you just can't buy a bike built up with a triple group for the road anymore, other than the most low-end groups with 8 or 9 cogs.

It seems you do use the gears you have now, why would you NOT want a triple on the next bike? I am sort of confused.

I keep myself in the 39 most of the time, use the whole cassette on that ring, and basically shift down to the 30 when things go steeply uphill, and use the 53 when things pitch down hard, just to keep my legs spinning. Everyone tells me to get a compact instead, and I just don't see the upside... other than actually being able to find a complete bike instead of having to go with a more involved process of buying bits and having them assembled.

I may go with the latter anyhow, just because I'm contrary.