Well, if they are brazed on (or welded) I think it is a great idea! I now have a couple bikes with stem shifters - something which I had always shunned decades ago. I now tend to think they are great. If you look at the line of the cable housing, in that photo it is far superior to what you could effect with bar-end shifters or even ERGO/STI cable routing. Just very clean, direct, and basically kept better in like with the frame regardless of the turning of the steering tube. What I hate is the cumbersome clamps which are bulky and simply always seem to be in the way. That would be perfect.