IGH, Alfine, Rohloff, Sturmey Archer and frames/bikes built for them...

Yes, other forums have it that older models SG-S500/501 have the shifing 'in reverse' (also referred to as low-normal), which I believe is your case. Newer models SG-S7000 have the shifting the other way around (referred to as top-normal), which is more like the usual MTB shifting I believe. The old/new shifters are not interchangeable, you can not use old hub and new shifter for example.
My problem, I believe, is that Gevenalle shifters allegedly use old low-normal scheme, where as what hubs I have available to me are new ones. Hence, if it won't prove otherwise, I'm fucked.
One could say I should ask same questions on other forums, however I'm not registered there, and was hoping there'd be some alfine wisdom here.

I guess you have to go for Di2 after all.

where as what hubs I have available to me are new ones.

Do you have the hubs already?

If I was buying one now, I'd avoid the top normal ones like the plague. They are going to need specific shifters, cassette joints and who knows what else.

AFAIK the same cassette joint will work on 7 and 8 speed Nexus and bottom normal Alfine and the 8 speed Nexus and bottom normal Alfine can also share shifters.

God knows about the internals, I can't see how they could be the same.

There are bottom normal Alfine 8s with no fitting kit/small parts on ebay for like £80. When I owned an Alfine 8 (bought used) I considered buying one and just swapping the internals to refresh mine.

I guess you have to go for Di2 after all.

Yeah, this.

And 11 speed while you're at it.

thanks guys. yeah, one of the local hub suppliers says if things go south with incompatible levers, he has these new 8-sp nexus ones, which are just rebranded old model alfines, so should be ok.
don't think i can splash out for Di2, let alone 11sp, given that I already exceeded my budget buying a 'limited lifespan', according to @edscoble , belt setup :)

also, just so i can plan my budget for next 12 to 18 months or so, which drop bar levers mate with Di2 alfines? can it be some ultegra-type, so not overly expensive?

https://www.evanscycles.com/shimano-alfine-di2-s705-sti-shifter-set-EV184207

Evanscycle website won't let me in from neither of the devices I own unfortunately...

Shimano Alfine Di2 S705 STI Shifter Set
£159.99 £199.99 Save 20%

20% at least make a real difference at those prices...

Di2 can be run either 8 or 11 speed.

It's awesome.

(My friend and I been experimenting with belt drive, in the end we end up realising that chain is much easier, especially to repair).

My friend and I been experimenting with belt drive, in the end we end up realising that chain is much easier, especially to repair

I think belt drive sounds like a good idea but the reality isn't quite there.

To run belt you need singlespeed or at least singlespeed drivetrain, ie hub gear so that already makes the chain easier to maintain, wear out less etc.

If you're thinking the belt will be better for wet weather use then you're probably already using (or planning for) guards so you don't get wet yourself and a mudguard good enough to keep you dry will also keep the chain a lot drier and cleaner.

Chuck a chain case (even a hockey stick style) in there and the chain will be very well protected.

You google "singlespeed chain" and there's loads of links to chains from £5, you google "gates centretrack", "gates cdx" or "gates bicycle belt" and there's barely a retailer on the first page of results.

Rohloff. Thread ends

I think belt drive sounds like a good idea but the reality isn't quite there.

That my feeling too, also need to be careful in tensioning the belt, there's literally an app for that (using sound to get feedback), and a Park Tool gauge;

he has these new 8-sp nexus ones, which are just rebranded old model alfines, so should be ok.

I've recently build up a bike with the new Nexus and it does appear to be similar to the old Alfines, just slightly puffy (with Microshift shifters which have a lovely sharp feel).

Is it the center lock nexus, Ed?
What's similar is the insides (allegedly), not the outsides
Also, gevenalle finally got back to me saying S7000 users did not report any problems with their ux1 shifters, so I'll probably just send the lever/shifter to my local Alfine guru to sort this out. If it s a no-go, he'll switch to the new nexus thingies.

Is it the center lock nexus, Ed?

Yup, I can't recall if Alfine is always centerlock as well.

Alfine SG-7000 8spd for sale

I've won a Genesis Day One Di2 Alfine 8 on Ebay for a sensible sum, so will be able to give you all real world updates on it as I use it as my daily commuter..

Just need to get the titanium frame built up to swap all the parts across onto..

Yeap, I've built a belt/IGH myself, so giving few more rides before any reports

Will be interested to see what the Di2 is like. The standard Alfine 8 is a lot more fussy to get it set up properly than I was expecting.

Tru dat!

The shop I work in sells ebullitts with alfine di2, pretty okay to begin with but can be a pain in the ass to adjust. No 4th gear and yellow lines in the window, just a lot of trial and error!

Alfine 8 is great. Although 5/6 shift sucks balls. Ran one from 2010-2015 until I got Rohloff. Try a 11 speed Shi. Ma.No for better range

Just did the commute (15miles) on the Day One today, it's not as heavy as I thought is was going to be, the shifting is nice and smooth, the indicator/display is starting to annoy me less, the wheels/tyres feel really big, takes such a long time to get it going, but once it is, its really smooth, thinking I might swap the 35s for 32s or 28s, previous owner made a bit of bodge of the rear mudguard so it's a bit rattly, gearing on the 8spd seems to go in progressive jumps, currently miss the closer gear ratios of my road bike, it's a bit hard to find the optimal gear on this hub, as it either feels a bit too big, or a bit too small, if you know what I mean..

Liking it so far, but feel I'd like to do a bit more fettling, to get it how I would like..

bit of an update, had the bike a little over two months now, will definitely be swapping out the 35's for 32's got some marathon supreme's coming and dynamo hub and rim, plus lights to make the coming winter months lighter.
Loving the di2 shifting, haven't had to adjust or tweak anything on that side, the only issue I'm having is the spacing of the gearing, meaning I'm only using consistently 3 of the 8 gears, gear calculator online tells me those gears consist of

55.6
68.0
78.9
Gear Inches

and the spacing feels too even between them, I'd like them to be more closely clustered together in the center of the range, where there's less of a jump between them, so going from 55 to 60, 60 to 63, 63 to 67, 67 to 71 and then the two at top and two at bottom could be bigger jumps since you don't use them that often, unless going up or down hill.
Not sure this is ever going to happen unless someone redesigns the internals or allows users to re gear their own hubs during servicing.
I can change the cog and the chainring to try to move the gearing closer into my sweet sport, but the jumps between gears are never going to change. So I suppose it's something I'll just have to get used to..