That was the bottom line. I could friction shift as well or better. I still can. When I put a 10sp modern wheel (well, modern is getting relative. It was already 20 years ago) on a 6/7sp 126 spaced bike the shifting was super smooth and quick. And because there are 10 cogs in the space of 6 or 7, you weren't between gears very often so none of that clang, clang, clang. Indexed shifting works so well now because of the ramps on the cogs. The chain just rides up and down on them and doesn't make noise, it always engages. And. it works just as well with friction shifters as it does with indexed. The thing was, they were invented to make indexed work better so the new cassettes were always sold with indexed systems.

I set up the last bike I had like this on my trainer just a few weeks ago, but I can still put the 10sp wheel on it when I take it off the trainer. I just have to make sure the brakes work. I haven't been on it in years outside. I posted a pic of it in this thread.