CX single ring setup

[atrexler]

Greetings folks, hoping to get some input from the collective here. Since cyclocross season is over its time to obsess about component and setup choices for next year. I want to make sure I've got everything right before I start buying parts.

My current rig is setup with a single front chainring, Paul's chainkeeper, and shimano 9speed derailleur and shifters. I'm thinking of switching over to a Wolf's narrow-wide chainring up front and dispensing with the chainkeeper. It seems like without the keeper, the consensus is that a clutch type derailleur adds some insurance keeping that chain on.

The Google tells me that 9speed shimano MTB der will work with 10speed cassette and STI shifters. Has anyone around here used this before? Any issues? I've seen on here that people have done similar things with SRAM stuff as well. Easier with the SRAM versus Shimano?

thanks all.