If you like your local shop great. Lucky you. If your local shops all have pros/cons they you know where to go for what. All the online shops have the same deal. I know where to go for what.

I just don't buy the party line of "support your local LBS". As I said, if you like your LBS, great. But why do I need to support some lame shop that just happened to pop up in my area? Better yet why does anyone need to support it? The "buy local" argument doesn't work with me.

That being said, a good shop is good when you find it. I ski and my "shop" is 300 miles away...but it's worth the effort as the boot fitter there is maybe the best boot fitter in the country (not just by me, but most of the US Olympic ski team). As for bikes, I've had amazing service and help from Competitive Cyclist online, but I wouldn't be caught dead in Arkansas to visit their actual shop, even as much as I dig them and their knowledge/service.

It's all about priorities I suppose.