I've never changed anything up in gear quantity just to change. IMHO (repeat IMHO) its delusional to think that anything above 9 is "better", except if the capacity changes to accommodate one's gear needs, or the ergonomics of the shifters is better for the user. If things wear out or I build up a new bike and, if for some reason don't have the old parts available (as if they went with a bike I got rid of), I generally go to the current iteration. But now, we have 3 10 speeds and 1 8 speed road bikes in the garage. Man they work perfectly!