Ya Pays Yer Money

I recently was offered a deal on a Specialized Tarmac Pro frame at a cost "too low to print". Seriously, bike shop owners would hunt down the distributor making this offer to some local racers. Below dealer cost. I thought long and hard, decided I was going to do it and then added up all the attendant expenses and backed out. It wasn't that the frame isn't worth it in some sense, but that the word "worth" is what's up for grabs here. In the end I didn't want to be riding something I'll cry about when I lay it down.
Further proving my cheapness, I'm going to experiment with Microshift shifter/deraileur system. I also got a Shimano R700 crank (supposedly DA quality) for cheap. My wife has Shimano 10sp equipment already and an extra cassette from an upgrade so this conversion is going to be under $350. So expect an installation review in a week or so.