My early ten-speeds had down-tube shifters; one had bar end. My 12- and 14-speed bikes had stem shifters. Perhaps it's because I never had a high-end bike in those days, but I greatly appreciate the smooth performance of the modern brifter. That said, I do miss having a tactile cue of what ring/gear I'm on/in. Perhaps I'm still on the learning curve, but I still tend to sneak a peek at the gear-index window (which disappear once you get to 105-level equipment).