10 speed Campag shifters and 9 speed Shimano cassettes/mechs work OK for me too - no shiftmate or funny cable runs, but setting up is a little more fiddly to get it just right.
8 speed Shimano works perfectly - I only went to 9 because I'd left ordering a new chain and cassette too long before a big ride and they wouldn't arrive in time, so replaced the worn bits with new spares from the MTB box (I use large cassettes anyway for spinning up hills).