Some of it comes down to personal taste. But for what its worth.
  1. Have logged well over 20k miles on Shimano 600 (precursor to Ultegra) then onto ultegra.
  2. have logged about 2k miles on Campy Centaur
  3. have logged about 3k miles on SRAM Force
  4. tried Campy Chorus
  5. tried Dura Ace


Maybe my Centaur wasn't set up right, but I just didn't like it. I'm used to quick precise shift without any loss or dead time. Centaur was bit sloppy. Chorus was quick positive feel and definitly race worthy. Centaur is not.

Sram Force front deraillure on my bike is bit sloppy. Don't like it. However, I love the rear deraillure. Shifts precise quick and love the double tap thing. Also able to shift while I'm braking or in the drops. Something you can't do or hard to do on Ultegra. SRAM Force rear is definitly race worthy. Front not so much.

Ultegra is very reliable but when it breaks, usually things starts to go bad after about 7-10K miles, you replace the whole thing in the STI brifters. no user serviceable parts as they say. Ultegra shifting is smooth to a point where sometimes its hard to tell if you shifted at all. Still I would say Ultegra is race ready.

Dura Ace is bit lighter and performs about the same as Ultegra. You pay lot more for less (weight).

I think most people would look at SRAM Force to be on the same level as Ultegra. Maybe on the same level as the Campy Chorus. Centaur definitly falls below Ultegra and Force.

I have yet to try Campy Record (what evar happened to Record-C), SRAM RED.

If your level is above just a weekend 5mile kind of ride, go with 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace, Force, Red, Chrous, or Record.

If your hand reach is short go for ultegra with shims installed on the brifters.