I've never been concerned with cadence. I pedal fast down hill and slow up hill. Maybe it's because on a BMX you get around by sprinting like a madman and then sit down and coast till you need to stand back up. I also typically ride as fast as I can manage. I'm not doing tours or anything crazy. My planned rides usually don't excede 30 miles.
I have only owned Schwinns from the 70s and 80s as far as geared bikes. I was probably 27 before getting a geared bike. They had down tube and stem mounted shifters that are not indexed. When I worked as a bike tech I got to ride some more modern bikes that could possibly change my opinion but it just seems like too much of a hassle for a slight advantage when commuting or riding for the fun of it.
It's nice to be able to go mach 1 down hill and climb with little effort but everywhere else it's just a waste of metal.
I can usually keep up with all but the most serious of riders with one gear. Of course living in Fort Collins there are some legit roadies out here who smoke me on Overland Trail but I'm not a competitive rider (aka "cyclist").