Originally Posted by cyccommute
The load on the bearing is set by the torque on the top cap...Pretty fine adjustment and certainly finer than the old jam nut system of threaded headsets.
+1 for this. A skilled mechanic could jam the nuts just right on a threaded set to get perfect tension every time. Average joes often left too much slack or brindled the headset bearings. The top-cap torque system on threadless is easier to adjust accurately and more dummy-proof for the non-professional mechanic.