I fully agree, dbrk. I've been considering adding a new Mercian to my current collection for a while now. If I wasn't such an extreme penny pincher I'd have one by now. I ordered a brochure through their website and was surprise how glossy and modern it was, while it still retained just the right touch of old style and British charm.
I'm sure I'll get the courage to take the plunge soon. Meanwhile, I love surfing that site and wondering what colors I'd choose for the head and seat tube bands...