Any Shimano/SRAM/Campag purists in the house?

Since when, exactly, have the manufacturers had the right to dictate the taste of the customer? Manufacturers will go with what sells. That's not the same as saying everyone that buys stuff has taste. Austin Allegro. Humvee. And so forth.

they don't have ' the right.' not sure where you got that from. Just saying it's interesting that italian manufacturers are not nearly as hidebound and blinkered as italian bike aficionados can sometimes be.