Ok, brief first ride observations after a 15 mile get-to-know-you ride.

• 105 groupset is the star of the show so far. Incredibly smooth, and the ratios are nice and close - never without a gear that's "right".
• I limited my downhill speed because this bike is so much more twitchy than what I'm used to. Feels like it will just go wherever you think about pointing it, which will take a bit to get used to.
• Power to the pavement. Compared to my "old" comfort-hybrid, it feels like every watt is making you go forward. In fact at one point I could actually hear the wind noise increase/decrease with each pedal stroke. Of course that means that my circle pedaling is not very efficient... But I never got such action/reaction before.
• It's geared low enough. One of the things I was really concerned about is whether I was ready for a 34/32 low gear. I know the tires are smaller than my Raleigh with its 28/32 low gear, but the gear-inches are still around 25% higher IIRC. However, I was able to ride it up my "home hill" in roughly the same gear sequences as I do on the Raleigh (i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc). In fact, I bested my previous best time of 17:00 by nearly two minutes - 15:12!
• It's a work of science/art. I find it beautiful. I realize some people care only about function. And while I agree that function should trump form, if form can have a say without compromising function, I say - bring it on! There are just so many little details you have to see to appreciate. I love how integrated the brakes are; from how the cables take the shortest/most direct route, to the aerodynamic profile and sheer small size/low profile. And the matte finish is really nice. I got the dark blue with CA blue accents.

Note that I was riding in sneakers on plastic platform pedals, as the shoes I ordered had not showed up. Tentatively planning a longer ride (40 miles RT) over to the LBS to pick them up tomorrow.