Will I be a POSER (Page 3)

If you want a bike that you are going to be happy with for a long time, that's one thing. If you think buying the SC9 is going to keep you content for the rest of your life just because it is a couple notches above the SC7 now, you are crazy.

The difference between the SC9 and 7 will all but disappear in the next couple years. If the goal here is seriously to keep a bike for life, get whatever you absolutely LOVE....I don't care if it is a banana seat Schwinn. An SC9 in three or four years is going to be just as hoopty from a cutting edge technology perspective. So I wouldn't base it on what's is "hot" now.

Also, if you say that the money is not a factor but yet don't have enough left over to outfit the bike with some wheels, I would say it is more of a factor than you think. If it were me, I would take a well thought out and nicely setup SC7 over a bone stock SC9 any day.

And that is the final answer.   I think I agree.

Buy the best bike you can otherwise you will buy it later. Cheaper to do it now.  I've learned this lesson all too many times.  

I wanted the Felt B16. It had everything I needed.  I bought the B12.  

Different decisions for different people. I wanted a SC7, went with a 2011 B16. Got a screaming deal on the B16 and a power tap. Paid less for the bike+powertap than I would have paid for an SC7. Sure, in the long run I'll want a new bike, but that would be true of any bike. In the short term, I have a good bike and a PT to help me train better.

I wouldn't care about what other people would think.  When I pass a superbike on the course, the last thing on my mind is "Geeze that guy sure is a poser!".  I'm far more concerned with the road ahead.