I was asked to help out a couple missionaries that only use their bikes and had brake problems. As a former mechanic in the 70's and 80's, I thought "no big deal", packed up a couple wrenches and arrived to find two bikes with disc brakes. This was my first time dealing with discs so it took some time to figure them out enough to adjust them, about 20 minutes. The first few minutes were hardest, as cussing seemed necessary and I had to bite my tongue for the sake of the missionaries hanging over my shoulder. I don't know enough to properly service them but they seemed like a good idea for guys who ride every day, rain or snow included and have never turned a spoke wrench. I enjoy truing wheels so I might be biased.

I don't choose to ride in bad weather and southeast Michigan is pretty flat, so no great benefit for me. I'm sure it's useful to emphasize disc brakes from a selling standpoint as it helps justify getting a new bike but the simplicity of maintaining rim brakes wins out for my purposes. Good cables, casings and pads are all I need.

Now about this campy/shimano/sram issue, I'm sure that most all of us agree it doesn't really exist, as a Sugino Mighty Competition+Suntour V or Cyclone setup is all one ever needs, right?