So on regular group rides, I notice a lot of really nice wheels. It seems like the nicer the wheel, the louder the hub. I know of a couple friends, one has a set of fulcrum race 7's, and another with a set of bontrager wheels, not sure which model. It just seems like a quiter hub would be more of a luxury than the annoying crank sound that these hubs make. I really would love to get a nicer set of wheels, but I'm scared of a set of more expensive wheels that annoy me. The specialized hubs that came on the stock wheels on my Allez Elite are smooth, and super quiet.

Is there a reason for this? Safety of some sort to make you aware when someone stops pedaling in front of you?