ha-ha! let's have a fight over kick-stands!
when i was a kid i never used them as i thought that weight was important and none of the racers had them. i used to ride for the sake of riding. wore tight jerseys and lycra, had bike shoes was clipped into the bike...
now i use a bike differently, for commuting to school and work and for errands. i use it to get somewhere, often carrying stuff. once i got a bike with fenders, lights, racks, and yes, a two-point kickstand, i'll never ride without them. for me, it was a revelation, riding through a puddle and not getting wet, stopping at the store and not worrying about scruffing my brooks on the brick wall... and when i got out being able to stuff the saddle bags with the bike standing up. it works for me. no, i'll never be able to catch the guys on the light italian rides, and you know what? i never could. and now i don't pretent to. but they can't carry two watermelons home from the grocery either. i also don't wear someone else's advertising on my clothes, don't wear sunglasses that make me look like a bug, and god forbid, i don't even wear lycra. oh, and i finally got platform pedals. i wear regular shoes. man i love it! i ride more often than i ever did, and it's a lot more fun (and practical) for me.
to each his own! long live bikes and riders!