Originally Posted by
somnambulant
Exactly.. I don't think it really speaks to the quality of the part, just that it meets the organizing body's specifications -- which I wouldn't assume means it's "good" necessarily (or bad, for that matter).
Analogy to 'cross: The UCI says that cyclocross bikes can't have disc brakes... are canti's "better" than discs? or vice versa? I think it depends on what your own preferences/needs are, but a cx bike with discs automatically isn't UCI-legal.
That's true, but on the other hand, with the large number of skinny white hipsters moving to Japan and racing Keirin these days, it sort of makes sense to go fully-NJS the first time so you don't need to re-buy any components down the road.