I think LBSs are still critical for selecting a bike. I wouldn't have the road bike I have if I didn't get extremely lucky and have the one LBS who carries the brand just happen to have the model I was looking at in the color I wanted in the frame size that actually was the right one. That said, if they didn't have it, I would probably be on another bike - but either way, it would've been a bike that had to be available to test ride to make sure.