Back in the fall, a buddy(mode 2 guy) came out to the field with a small fun fly type airplane of his own design. He asked me to fly it on its maiden flight, but I declined. Finally after the other 'test pilots' had all declined, I agreed to go ahead and fly it. I flew that little plane about 15 times that day.
On the third flight or so, another buddy walked up to myself and the plane's owner and asked me as I was flying, "Hey aren't you a mode1 pilot?" To the utter shock of the plane's owner, I of course replied "Yes". He then asked me if I had ever flown mode 2 before. I replied "not before today"

After flying Mode 1 for 17yrs, I don't think I intend to change. Many at my club have asked me to, and I admit that I would prefer to not need to 'work' on a transmitter before using it, but I did not feel enough of an advantage was possible by changing to Mode 2.

With all that said, if I was a pilot starting out today, I would go with Mode 2 simply because radios come that way and 'everyone else is doin' it'.