Must admit, have gone the other way – full XTR set up to XO mech and XO gripshifters. Maybe not as buttery smooth but a little more positive and definitley faster (IMO of course). Not come across a wear issue yet!!
Can recommend some Shimano 182N's which are great most of the year though can get a bit warm when the wether is hot. I do have some custom made insoles in them though as the standard Shimano insoles are pants.
If I could just add a little downer, if you are going to buy an anthem x have a try first as I have found the sizing awkward. They are quite stretched and the standover was zero (5’8″ on a medium)
I would have thought you should(!!) get a lot more miles yet out of a modern diesel engine (like a TDCI).
I am currently running a ’99 peugeot HDI engine with 210K on the clock and it still runs great.
Used to have an older Creative Zen, now have an Ipod.
The Ipod hardware is better but, for me, the Creative software was far superior and easier to use, than I-Tunes.