I emailed Dynamic Bicycles to ask if the Nexus brifter was available yet as a standalone component, and I got this reply:

"We have just a couple of the Versa VRS-8 shifter sets left for immediate delivery. After our initial inventory is gone, they will only be available through distribution and retailers. The retail price on the Versa VRS-8 shifter set is $229. We have set aside a few sets with black levers for immediate delivery at a special price of $199. This $199 special price is only available direct from Dynamic."

I'll take the J-Tek bar end one for $80.

I already did. The Jtek works great so far and I am sure is considerably lighter than the Brifter. The Brifter is also not compatible with V brakes which I am using on my drop bar Alfine hub bike.

Also I bet that once being handled by distributors you should be able to get the set from discount dealers like Niagara and Jenson for less than the Dynamic "introductory discount" price.

Will the Jtek work with paul's thumbies?

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I thought friends didn't let friends use brifters? LOL

Personally I use old school friction shifters, I feel that there is less to go wrong with them for winter riding.
I am not sure what I had on my bike when I bought it, they were wicked slick, two little plastic levers one for up and one for down on each side and a indicator window to show me which gear I was in. One day I noticed moisture inside it, I figured if there was moisture in the summer in the winter I would have ice. I could not see any upside to that scenario. so I changed to friction shiffters

These discussions always make me think about the early 1900's. "What do you think about those new fangled Automobiles Clem?". "I wouldnt own one, to many things to go wrong, Ill stick with my horse, time will prove me right".

So, how in the world can you tell what gear you're in now?

Just sayin'

I don't really need to know which gear I am in as long as I am in the right gear as determined by the conditions: grade,wind and tiredness ect.

The trouble is that internally geared hubs NEED indexed shifting as a gear hub shift cable that is mispositioned can cause hub damage. I would not like to try and reliably shift a 5 or more speed single cable IGH with a friction shifter. The Nexus8/Alfine brifter is a solution for those who want an IGH drop bar bike but so is the Jtek shifter, at a lower price and probably a lighter weight.

The Rohloff twist shifter is a non-indexed shifter as the indexing is internal to the hub and it is a pull-pull two cable shifter like on many motorcycles. Same for the NuVinci CVT hub shifter.

I am sorry guys, I completely missed that this was about IGH. I am running a standard 3x8 dérailleur setup,hence my comment about which gear I am in.