Another advantage of DT friction shifters (really all DT shifters) is near complete immunity to damage in crashes. Yes, if you hit them hard from the side, the lever breaks. But has anyone here ever seen that? I never have and I live in a body that reminds me every day how many crashes it has seen. I have never heard of a DT shifter breaking 2nd hand or 3rd hand either.
I have heard of folks getting stabbed by bar ends and stem shifters and we all know brake levers get trashed regularly in crashes. (Yes, I have hit my DT levers a few times, but always climbing ridiculous hills in big gears - with my knee. Only damage was to my quads - trying to get up those suckers in a 42-13!)
Ben