I have a Trek 520, I'm 70" tall with shorter than average inseam - 56cm frame was right for me and no complaints in over 20 years and 50K miles. The year I bought it, Trek had gone to STI shifters and I've never had a problem with those either - but they have long since gone back to bar end shifters, which I've just never liked.

My newer, lighter bike for go fast day rides has disc brakes - I sure wish I'd had those on loading touring where there was a turn at the bottom of a downhill. I'm a convert - wouldn't go back to rim brakes.