I have the older Shimano drivetrains and they work great. Heavier than the latest Hollwtech 2, but they last alot longer. Don't ask why, but they seem to make those new chainrings out of cheese or something. Friction shifters are good. LX level is also good. XTR might be awesome, but after some miles in grit, mud, and dirt, they all feel the same anyway.

Btw, I am 35 and am thinking the same way as you do.

My new commuting/touring bike will be a steel frame with rigid fork. Avid mechanical discs (after what the last winter did to my brake pads and rims, I swore that discs are the only way to go). LX-level drivetrain. LX or XT hubs (will check out price difference). 36-h. My front hub will be a SON Schmidts dynamo-hub - disc-able. I WISH I could afford a Rohloff, or a Shimano Premium Nexus drivetrain. I will save lots on cassettes and chains! Might still go this way.....