Andy,

Thanks for posting this list here.

I agree with your lists in all three categories with a couple of additional thoughts.

I would add aluminum rims to the Honorable Mention list. They make rim brakes really functional, particularly in wet conditions. The current trend to disc brakes makes them less essential but they were a major improvement.

I'm not so sanguine about the current LAB/LAW. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries they were a huge force for legitimizing bicycling and lobbying for improved roads. By the late 20th century they fell into squabbling about the organizations name more than actively working for bicyclists and their influence had seriously declined. At this point I believe "Adventure Cycling" (formerly Bikecentennial) is a much more influential organization and serves its members far better.