I've had good luck with DA stuff, but when I raced I used Ultegra because DA was too expensive (and ***** happens). I hate STI though, and back when I raced cat3 used downtube shifter for the front derailleur, barcon for the rear. These days I use barcons for both. I had Campy Chorus 9spd on the Moots, and it was beautiful, but I really don't like using the brake levers to shift (although I like ergo better than sti). I'm cranky old school that way. Plus I've always used a smattering of parts. My current road build (once I find a cheap/good used steel frame) is:
Ritchey Logic road cranks
DA rear, Ultegra front derailleur
old 105 single pivot or newer Ultegra dual pivot brakes
Moots layback post and WTB Ti rail saddle
Nitto "Perfect" 46cm bar
stem unknown (depends on the frame)
Suntour xc9000/ma-2/butted front
Ultegra/ma-2/butted rear
Not exactly the lightest wheels around, but the xc9000 hub is as good as a Phils, the MA2s bombproof (potholes), and I can run Conti 700x28s. I like fatter tires. Getting old
My claim to breaking things fame was on my Super Mondia commuter. I rode it into the lab most every day in grad school, and it had a Phils bottom bracket. One day I jumped when the stoplight changed, got about 2 or 3 cranks in and my feet went flying...almost crashed. I snapped the spindle. The shop had *never* seen a snapped Phils spindle.