another late reply Doug--one thing I didn't think to mention is that given how you know and like the feel of the shimano shifters, the currently available Sora 9 spd shifters have a very similar feel when you shift (plus the paddles) whereas the Microshift ones I remember have a slightly more clunky feel to the shifts, as well as unless I am mistaken, a second button to shift up that is in a slightly diff position to the shimano paddles (or is it a thumb button, like the old Sora 8 speeds and Campy shifters, sorry I forget?)

major price difference I imagine though