IMO, it really doesn't matter anywhere near as much as the amount of discussion would indicate.
Exactly so.... sprint_st is spot on the money here.
It has always amazed me how much energy moto-forums (and email listservs before that) have spent over the years on oil debates. Running a close second behind that is the subject of chain lubes. Fortunately, we are largely spared the latter thanks to the bike having a shaft drive.
I sorta wished I had paid more attention when Mobil One 15-50w changed to a silver cap some time ago, but I suppose in the end, it's really not all that important to me. Historically, whenever they "re-formulate" and make a big, splashy advertisement campaign complete with new bottles, cap-color changes, et. al., the "re-formulation" is little more than a tiny, minuscule change in some additive ("now with 0.0173% more zinc!") or the like. Big whup. I used to be a big, big Mobil One Synthetic proponent, and I still consider it among the best out there, even though I only use it in my FJR nowadays.
I find the topic of engine oils has some similarities to the topic of religion: just use what works for you, and please don't push it on others who may have a different "religious" perspective.
IMO, six words can pretty much sum up the only meaningful result of the endless oil debate:
"Dirty oil = bad. Clean oil = good".
As long as the oil in your engine is reasonably clean, it's hard to go wrong with most of today's modern oils. Select the proper viscosity and just use whatever gives you a woody.