Thanks for all the great support!

And shifting is sweet and smooth when you use friction! Yummy!
Hmmmm, dare I ask?!

Aggie_Ama, that's another thing that I've heard - problems with the gear shifting, rubbing, chain falling off with triples - but those all sound more like its time for a tuneup ... ??

I'm buying mid-range'ish - a Scott Contessa CR1 that comes out of the box with a Shimano Ultegra Compact, the LBS is spec'ing it with a 12/27 cassette.