I have never desired to go from big/small to small/big as one change, and I ride some pretty hilly terrain. If I ever even need to downshift the front without going up a few cogs in the rear I'd guess that I was totally sleeping/ignoring the signs that I should have been shifting long ago.
That said, with Campy Chorus it would take one push on the left shifter and and three on the right to go big/small to small/big using an 11 speed cassette. Going small/big to big/small would be one of the left and two on the right.
This. The movement of the derailleurs needs to be the same in both cases. I don't see how having friction prevents a dropped chain or poor reaction. If anything its easier because as you carry your momentum into the 10% hill you can shift while standing easily with STIs and continue to bang out gears without missing a beat. I've ridden friction plenty and never felt like either was limiting, and I've never felt at the end of a ride that I spent too much time shifting, usually just too much time suffering. I know steep hills with poor run ins. I ride and commute in seattle and the greater PNW.
First of all, let's talk about padded shorts vs padded saddles. Really, whatever works for you is fine and dandy. Life is too short to worry about it.
We have to consider the quality of the rider here. I am about as low as it gets as far as climbing ability. Really scraping the bottom of the barrel. Heck, I might have to go up a cog just to get over a speed bump in the parking lot. Where others see a mole hill, I see a mountain.
The chain dropping and poor reactions are from other riders. I see it every year at the same place on the same ride. It could be rider/route inexperience there. Nice fun rolling descent, then a 90 degree right to an immediate out of the saddle to start up the hill. After that turn, you are barely moving. People look up and start going through the gears. If they haven't got to the gear they need it about 5 or 10 yards, it is too late. They try to stand and grind it out, but momentum is gone and they fall over.(after a few front wheel waggles) 2 years in a row my rear axle slipped in the dropout at the start of that grind. I finally wised up and always make it extra tight before we start going down the hill before that turn.