Quite honestly I didn't think this way until recently. I just didn't know enough about the switch to pass judgement either way. The mtb guys were all about it so who cares, right? Must be something to it.
I've done more research into it the last few months than I had ever intended. Asking some very direct point blank questions to some people very in the know as that's my business. The benefit to the rider is never really something that people can articulate. The idea of making less scrap, having more control, slightly lighter wheels and being able to sell them for next to nothing while increasing their margin at the same time is the king of all of this.