I've got some REALLY nice old rear derailleurs, some of them from top of the line bikes from "back in the day." All of them have very short cages, only good for "racing" drivetrains. I look at them and think, "damn, that's a beautiful derailleur, and it shifts beatifully as well." But when I want to REALLY go for a ride, I get on one of my bikes with a hideously long cage rear derailleur, fully equipped with a "sissy" drivetrain," and I go ride. Very happily. I'm getting old, I'm built as oppositely to Michael Rasmusssen as one could possibly be (and damned thankful for it), and I have no delusions of grandeur when I'm riding a bicycle. Long cage derailleurs rock.............But to each their own-