I haven't ridden a bike with DT shifters in years. When I was doing so, shifting was pretty much unconscious and automatic, much like driving a stick shift in a car is now. Brifters were definitely an improvement, but not a huge one for me.

I had considered replacing the 8 speed Dura Ace brifters on my Colnago C96 with downtube shifters, so I could ride it on the Eroica ride. I'm less keen on the idea since I discovered that it still would not qualify .... the frame is not old enough.