on modern bike parts

Thought this was interesting enough to share, I hope it is :)

The original discussion is on electronic shifting.  Here is the link:

http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2008/03/jan-heine-on-virtues-of-frict...

...  And Shimano invented indexed shifting specifically to make you buy a group, including their shift levers (and freewheel). Then they combined freewheel and hub into a cassette hub, so you had to buy their hub, too. Then they combined their brake and shift levers, so you had to buy their brakes, too. Then they combined their cranks and BB, so you had to buy the set as well...