The Auora Elite is a Jamis Nova with a triple and nicer paint job.

I use my cross levers every time I'm slowing down to stop at an intersection and get on my tops.
I didn't realize how much I used them until one of them broke(! which my very good LBS fixed for me). But, I guess you could get used to not having them.

Steel is not real, and I'm saying that as someone riding a Jamis Aurora (the non-1337 version). Ride what feels good to you.