Originally posted by ImprezaDrvr
I'll put in the first vote for a good custom wheelset built by your LBS. You can get something built up with a non aero rim, nice double or triple butted spokes and sweet hubs. You'll have something that will last forever, is easy to repair and will be faster than the Elites in many situations, all while saving money.
I would also endose this as a smart way to go vs system wheels. A great hub can take on several different lives as rim technology comes and goes whereas I see my Eurus, Helium & Elite wheels as "nice to have extra wheelsets" because I found them either on sale (Eurus/Elite) or as second hand (Helium).
There are several sets of conventional component wheels sitting in my garage that have been in service for well over 10-15 years and I suspect I'll still be using at least the hubs, if not the hubs and spokes well after the the more expensive wheel sets have been retired to a hook in the ceiling to collect dust vs trying to locate a replacement rim for a rebuild if the rims get "nicked" or if the braking surfaces wear out.
As ImprezaDrvr notes, check with the guys/gals who race in your local area to get a line on a good LBS or a local wheel builder to evaluate all your options before starting a collection of exotic hardware -- something that seems to happen to a lot of us as we try to off-set the rigors of mid-life work demands and less time in the saddle with "go-fast goodies" to bridge the ever widening gaps in the pack.