I havent gone through all 3 pages, but am responding to the OP.

I WANT to give my money to my local bike store. They're really good people, and super helpful. If I had a question about a part, I would gladly go there (and have) and have them assist/answer questions, and pay full retail for tools/parts.

At this point though, I'm wuestioning how far my willingness to 'buy local' will extend though. I don't mind paying triple online prices for a tool I didnt know I needed to complete a job and couldnt have found myself online, or cables, or tubes, etc if I need them ASAP.

Buta $1000 plus bike that's not my first or second? Or 3rd/4/5/6/7th...thats a different story. Warranties are nice. Hell part of my living is made off of selling them. But you could buy a bike online, saw the frame in half with a hacksaw after taking it out of the box, order a replacement frame online, and still come out ahead from a finances perspective relative to buying in a brick and mortar store.