Ugh, wires. I wish we could get Nikon's system, the one place it beats Canon in macro... then again I never priced their system. In any case this could mean a nice cheap macro flash clearance before the new release.
I'm not sure I agree with you there, you can fake the R1C1 in a Canon system with an ST-E2 and a couple of 430's, or, if you have a 7D or later controller pop up flash, a 90EX and a 430EX MkII. However the MT-24EX has the same control as the base R1C1. You can add more SB-R200's to the Nikon but you effectively end up with a ringlight and use all your groups, a look that is better achieved with the SB29, which itself is no match for the Canon MR-14X as the Canon is a true ringlight with two adjustable tubes.
Don't really see the criticism of a cable from hotshoe mounted power/controller to lens mounted heads is very valid in a macro shooting environment though, for sure I'd take Canon's macro lens selection over Nikon's any day.
