The funny thing is you can go really expensive with steel as well. If you're at the $1000 price point you're probably not using really good brakes or wheels; both can vastly improve your ride and enjoyment.
I agree. There's always more to pay. But I've never thought to myself "geez my brakes aren't enough". Disc brakes are too powerful IMO, and thus dangerous. And honestly I don't even know what difference wheels would make? Mine are circular, stay true. Why do folks pay thousands on hand built wheels?
Gears/derailleurs I have a tough time with.. even nice ones seem to need constant adjustment so I ride a single speed now and feel like I discovered a bike secret.
I'd spend on fit, frame, seat, tires as a min bar to be picky about.
> Disc brakes are too powerful IMO, and thus dangerous.
Not true at all. People learn to modulate instinctively in a matter of seconds when switching from different bikes/brake systems.
Besides deoending on pad compound and rim material many v-brakes are very brutal with a low curve between doing nothing and grabbing hard compared to cantilevers and road calipers, so it not only about disc vs rim brake systems.
