Doc,
obviously different programs work for different people. But for me, I'm strickiong with no leg lifting during the season, based upon my own experience, and my coache's advice. From the CTS website: "Strength training can certainly be incorporated into your Foundation and Preparation Periods of training, and often decreases or stops altogether during the Specialization Period because it can interfere with the intense intervals called for during the Specialization Period. The key to successful strength training is to find the exercises that will compliment your endurance training appropriately. Look at what areas of your endurance sport you are looking to improve through strength training. Finding the areas of your endurance sport that you want to improve upon is a great way to determine the specific strength training exercises to participate in. One vital area of importance is building a strong core. We often recommend that our athletes focus on the core as opposed to focusing on power and strength in the weight room."
The recovery reason you give for pro cyclists, applies as much or more to amateurs who are training racing and working a job. Doing a hard sesaion of lifting with your legs is equivalent in training load to doing an interval session. So with 2 hard group rides or races during a typical week, and 2 days of intervals, there isn't enough time to add leg lifting and still have adequate recovery.

My perspective on this may be a little different form yours because I put out plenty of power, but just have too muchweight to haul around with it.