There have been several good points here, such as reversing the question, would you DQ a bike if they only offered rim brakes? If you were to look at buying a new bike, the way it looks nobody knows what the wheel/frame companies will do for sure, we have our theories but it will one of three choices. Offer rim, disc, or both. Possibly components like SRAM or Shimano may only offer one or the other, but I don't see that--too many old bikes out there & there is value in offering components for all those bikes. Disc frames & wheels seem to be pricey right now, but let's have a pretend scenario...
You are going to buy a bike, you don't know the future of the market (for sure). You THINK/hypothesize that the rim frames & wheels will eventually all disappear while you're still going to be owning/riding/racing your new bike. Would you DQ a company that says they won't be making disc brakes, based off your fears you'll be cornered with a bike that you may have eventually have trouble in a resale, or getting replacement components/wheels for rims?
I seriously don't see this ever happening, though the frames, wheels, components may market that to be the *future* and scare you into an "OMG, I best upgrade or all my stuff will just be old & hard to find--even if it does work." Honestly, I suppose a better question would be how will the marketing affect your choice? Cave to the hype?
Rim bikes may actually become MORE valuable in a re-sale situation, if things are harder to come buy. Rare & old may be worth something to a lot of people. Look at the Hooker Elite bikes, or Cheetah bikes--collectors for sure. But for daily use...like 6/7/8/9/10 speed wheels, I'd likely steer clear of a brand that doesn't upgrade (if you call it that) to the most recent technology, if I think it will be hard to get parts/components. Who would go buy a new wheel that is a 6 speed hub & that's all they offered, if the industry were moving to 7/8 speed as in the past?
Lots of "if's" here--curiosity on the general tri public's psyche of a purchase & how the influence of marketing and rumor affects it, regarding where this industry may or or not may be heading. Trying to see who would sway away from a company that says they're not "going there" --such as SRAM said when there was no reason to go electronic, then came out with eTap. How many bought Shimano instead thinking SRAM was just missing the future of where industry heads? I will say, SRAM has done a good job of turning it around quickly.
You are going to buy a bike, you don't know the future of the market (for sure). You THINK/hypothesize that the rim frames & wheels will eventually all disappear while you're still going to be owning/riding/racing your new bike. Would you DQ a company that says they won't be making disc brakes, based off your fears you'll be cornered with a bike that you may have eventually have trouble in a resale, or getting replacement components/wheels for rims?
I seriously don't see this ever happening, though the frames, wheels, components may market that to be the *future* and scare you into an "OMG, I best upgrade or all my stuff will just be old & hard to find--even if it does work." Honestly, I suppose a better question would be how will the marketing affect your choice? Cave to the hype?
Rim bikes may actually become MORE valuable in a re-sale situation, if things are harder to come buy. Rare & old may be worth something to a lot of people. Look at the Hooker Elite bikes, or Cheetah bikes--collectors for sure. But for daily use...like 6/7/8/9/10 speed wheels, I'd likely steer clear of a brand that doesn't upgrade (if you call it that) to the most recent technology, if I think it will be hard to get parts/components. Who would go buy a new wheel that is a 6 speed hub & that's all they offered, if the industry were moving to 7/8 speed as in the past?
Lots of "if's" here--curiosity on the general tri public's psyche of a purchase & how the influence of marketing and rumor affects it, regarding where this industry may or or not may be heading. Trying to see who would sway away from a company that says they're not "going there" --such as SRAM said when there was no reason to go electronic, then came out with eTap. How many bought Shimano instead thinking SRAM was just missing the future of where industry heads? I will say, SRAM has done a good job of turning it around quickly.