Why the aversion to SRAM Pete? Seems odd to write an option off simply because of who it’s made by?
I’ve just gone through the same decision process and plumped for Red, having never run SRAM on a road bike before. The reasons for the decision were essentially:
1. Cost: can mix and match groups, so I’ve got full 2013 Red drivetrain (the important bit) with Force shifters and brakes until some fab deal comes up. No real weight or performance penalty. As others have said, its easy to swap cheaper/available bits in and out in emergencies too.
2. Aesthetics: the new DA9000 Di2 looks nice, but the other generations of electric shifting look like they’ve been made in someone’s shed. The mechs look horrid and there’s a stupid great battery stuck to your down tube.
3. Weight: Red is lighter than DA7900 and loads lighter than Di2.
4. Function: The only significant advantage of Di2 as far as I can tell, other than the (albeit attractive) novelty value of pressing a button, is the trimming front mech. The new Red mech does the same job in a much more simple, elegant and lighter way.
I’m sure I’ll be tempted by electronic shifting one day, but it just doesn’t do it for me yet. DA9000 mechanical is another story, but would currently have cost me about twice as much to buy.