Dunno that I get the conspiracy theories. Or the upseted-ness over new stuff. If you don't like it, don't buy it. A while back a man told me he would "Never own an iPad", I asked if he had an Android tablet, he said no; and for the same reason. I asked what that reason was, and he said "Because every year they come up with a new one and your old one is obsolete".

SO!? Your still WORKS! I still have a first gen iPad. Works fine. Now, with computers, software advances. So eventually, the newest software won't work on the oldest hardware. But that's true of PC's and Mac's as well as it's true of mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. New stuff comes out; if you don't want it, don't buy it.

And what's always crazy about these discussions, is that at what point do you decide technology is 'enough'? Bikes with gears? Bikes with two wheels the same size (i.e., the 'Safety Bicycle') instead of one big wheel in the front? There's probably someone out there who loves their carbon road-bike with indexed brifters and 20 speeds who is scoffing at electronic shifting. Even on this forum I've seen (well, read) guys with several-thousand dollar high-tech road bikes who turn their noses up at anyone with a Bike Computer or who tracks their rides with a smartphone. "Too many gadgets, just get out and ride!" they say.

As far as the gearing; I sure do like my 24 speeds. I'm a beginner on a hybrid who doesn't quite have Contadors climbing legs yet. I don't use 24 speeds. But I do need that range. It's a 3x8, with an 11-32 cassette and a 48/38/28 chainring set. That means that when I hit a hill on the way home after a long ride I've got that really nice, "under-drive" 28/32 gear, or even a couple gears above that but not quite as aggressive as being on the 38 ring. I can also run 48/11 when sprinting on flat ground or building speed downhill. It means that at my preferred cadence, I can go 6mph or 30mph and lots of options in between. Chances are, when I've developed skills and strength and move on to a road bike; I'll do what most do with an 8/9/10 speed cassette and a "double" up front.

And really, it's not 24 speeds; because there are several gears that don't really work. Like 28/11 or 48/32. Cross-chaining and making a racket. So really it's not about having a lot of speeds; so much as it is about having a variety of ratios and ranges to choose from. Which depend greatly on the kind of riding you're doing.

One of the things I'm working on on the indoor trainer is increasing my 'cadence range', so it's less unusual to have a wider cadence range without needing gears as close together. But for now, having them close together is nice.

Cars don't need 6 or 7 speed transmissions either. Those old 3 and 4 speeds will get the job done fine. In fact, it wasn't that long ago that three speed automatics were common. But it's less efficient because you have to rev the engine a lot higher in one or more gears (either lower gears in order to reach gear 2 and 3 or at gear 3 on the highway because it's too low geared). These transmissions with more gears are more efficient and improve acceleration by bringing the gearing close together. Even if the final drive ratio and first gear ratio are practically the same as their predecessors.