Interesting. I have noticed the rear derailleur is usually / often a step above the rest of the components. I always assumed that was because that component was considered more of a workhorse and having that component at a higher level would benefit the rider more. Silly me!
*takes notes -- higher components on crankset and FD, not RD* -- not that it really matters unless you're buying a high enough end bike that you're picking components yourself rather than buying whatever's in the build kit. Well, I guess you could upgrade components at the time of purchase ... never been tempted to do that, though.

