Well in the direction of using different spokes......
I'm about to build up a set of 700c wheels. The hubs are Rohloff 36H and for the front Disk braked Son28 36H.
I'm going to use Sapim CX-Rays and Velocity Dyad rims for an Ogre Frame. I'm modeling these wheels on my small wheel tourer - my Moulton APB. The smaller extrusion of the Dyad is the Aeroheat and I got wheelbuilder.com to build up those wheels with shortened CX-Ray spokes for the 406 size. I'm very happy with the 20" Aeroheat wheels and hope I have as much joy with the 700c Dyads. Anyone not like the CX-Rays? I'd love to hear your reasoning

I don't like them. They cost at least $2.35 ea - I'd have to spend $188 to build a 36h wheelset on spokes alone, versus only $60 for perfectly fine, more-than-adequate Wheelsmith DB spokes at $0.60 ea or $60 for a wheelset build, or even plain ole WS SG spokes at $0.38 ea, or $38 for a wheelset.

You're simply throwing away $128-$150 for some spokes that have a slight aerodynamic advantage, which is to most tourists a moot point once you've gazed upon a loaded bicycle for 3 seconds. The only thing really good about bladed spokes is that you can control spoke wind-up when building, which is nearly impossible on conventional spokes.

If overkill wheel strength is your goal, you should instead consider DT Alpine spokes. Most tourists don't choose them because they are overkill longevity-wise for the great majority of users, and because they are expensive at about $1.17 per spoke, or $84 for a 36h wheelset.

I suggest you consider more practical WS DB spokes, and put the extra money into food budget, better tires, or perhaps an aero bar, which should look as ridiculous as Cx Rays on a Surly Ogre, but will instead offer a small but perhaps significant aerodynamic advantage when used.

Well its an opinion I guess...... More power to you.

There seems to be an acknowledgement of a desire for strength and longevity but you dont mention their inherent lightness.

As a user of an IHG and dynamo hub my rotating mass is already heavier than most and apart from a one off expenditure (which I agree it good to be sitting down when you get the bill for the spokes), for myself you've not made a selling argument for other spokes apart from appearing to not want to pay for a product (which I have no issue with as thats your choice).

http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/...3/DSC04758.jpg

I have no problem with your choice of "perfectly fine, more-than-adequate" and whilst its not my choice, I wont say anything demeaning like its ridiculous. Yes I have issue with that (and only that) part of your post. I'm unsure if its just clumsy wording on your behalf (which I'm sometimes guilty of myself) but I found it particularly unpalatable.

My thinking for my Aeroheat combo on my small wheeled bike was I wanted the best balance I could between weight and strength as I was using my bike to cross Australia from East to West hauling an overloaded trailer. I have no wheelbuilding skills and as there are many stretches of the journey with many days in between towns I wanted to do the best I could to eliminate potential problems with wheelfailure. I think my expense paid off in spades as I completed my trip with no issues from my wheels.

I've decided the expense was worth it to me then and as I'd like to next be touring in even more remote territory that its worth it to me now.

I think what I'm saying is that if I thought there was a better or stronger/lighter balance available then I'd buy it as I'm not interested in wheelbuilding myself and just want the benefit of doing it right "once" and forgetting about it except for maybe a yearly tune up of the spokes.

Thank you for the mention of the DT Alpine spokes as I was previously unaware of them, but will research them and attempt to determine their cost effectiveness vrs weight vrs strength balance and my "best for the job" mandate.