I live on Grizzly peak blvd. in berkeley - so hills are about all I ride. I actually need to make an effort to go and work on my power on the flats. If I had to choose between my compact and my DuraAce wheels (and at $250 you won't be saving .92 of a pound) I'd go with compact. The right gear is key and it isn't so much the choice in the largest rear cog that makes the difference - it is the next three of four smaller that really let you slot into the right climbing cadence. My rear is 12-25 and it works great. 25 can get me out of about anything and the next ones are what I spend most of my climbing time in.