I know this is primarily a racing lightweight forum. However, for kids like myself growing up in the 70's who weren't primarily interested in racing it was a question of intended function.
I lusted after a TA triple crank for loaded touring. I remember going to the LBS that had Campagnolo brakes and took a look. Not enough whoa. I spent my money Weinmann brakes and put on rusty brake shoes with nifty fins.
Rear deraileur was easy for me a Shimano crane GS, shifted great and wrapped up yards of chain (not clunky looking like the suntour vgt either). I heard of the legendary cussing at the Gran Turismo and didn't hear of S. Wolfe untill I joined this list.
Shifters easy. Suntour Bar-cons.
Front Deraileur easy. Suntour first generation cyclone with the nifty cage extender. I later traded the cyclone for a NR front and decided I had made a bad trade. It wouldn't pick up the middle chain ring without shifting to the large one first.
First Generation ( I didn't know that was important then) dura ace hubs were very smooth and so much less to a kid who just paid for a Serotta frame it was hard to justify.
Pedals were kkt Pro ace with leather kkt straps. VERY NICE.
Seat Post was a SR copy of a simplex post. Solid and too cool at a very small fraction of a Campagnolo Post.
Howard Darr
Clymer PA