achieving 'bike fit'

i have an idea what it means to have a bike that fits and i can tell you, but then somebody would tell me i was wrong. i do know the hazards of improper fit(pain/injury) and the cost of a custom fitting($50).there are likely 3 measurements that are most important

1. arm
2. torso
3. leg

like I said, i am not a bike professional , i know what works for me and i know my body size as it relates to bicycle fit. short legs/long torso/ average arms....complicating factors: swirly spine, and q factor tolerance. i ride a 56 cm road bike, kick the seat back and use a stem of 10 cm or longer, and try to ride a double up front and not a triple. has this evolved over time and will it continue to change, perhaps....but i'm sticking with old school brake levers and downtube shifters on my next build. ya see, i'm not enthralled with the position changes required by 'brifters' or integrated levers and shifters.

i'm 45 and i still can ride in the drops, in fact after my back surgury i asked the surgeon if i was going to need to modify my bicycle position, 'negative, the bent-over curve is actually better for your injury'...so i got that going for me. that said, i'm going to swap out a stem on my long distance touring bicycle right now before tomorrows ride.