I think a lot of the FGers here have been in keirin/euro/lugged steel la-la land. Compact bikes are here to stay, most of the big manufacturers have used slopping top tubes for a few years now despite what the sticklers for traditional geo have said about it. The reality is they are cheaper to produce, have tested to be stiffer, and appeal to the wiz-bang new comers looking for a techno wonder bike like they ride in the TdF.

I think it's a matter of just adjusting what you are used to. Hell, even the Walkster builds some frames with slopping top tubes, maybe he can give us some insight.