The value of upper body strength training

The other way to look at it is that strength training is addressing a limiter.  For me...for the base period...will log 2-3 full body workouts per week, and 4-5 core workouts per week until it comes time to be sport-specific.  For me, this will address limiters - strength on the swim (addressed by upper body, swim-specific weights), and power on the bike (addressed by core, as a huge amount of your riding power is generated from your core). 

There are many options for addressing the limiters, of course. including bear's 'do more s/b/r'.  But being in the north, riding lots means riding on the trainer, which is really boring ....so I'm open to other alternatives.  For swimming, I can do funky sets to address 'em, I just get o-so-bored in the pool.  So weights provide variety, and IMHO, as much benefit, if not more, when combined with some level of the sport-specific training.

For you...you've got to decide what's going to address your limiters.  If it's power, or strength, and what you've been doing hasn't worked, assess the options.  Weights may be one of 'em.  But if you don't try, you'll never know. Until you get passed.   Just kiddin', but you get my drift.

FWIW on a S-A-TUR-D-A-Y NIGHT.

I do light weights in a weight class. It's sort of aerobic (squats and lunges are anyhow) and done with low weights for high reps.

I find that overall, between running and biking and lunges and squats -- my legs are stronger than my arms all things being equal simply because they get more of a workout. Swimming really works my arms and since I'm not strong in my upper body, I like to add weight training to them. Also, I view weights as a boost to keeping my bone density in check as a woman.

I do thing though that when I get close to a race this summer, I'll drop the weights and work in more tri training mainly due to time constraints.

I like strength training for the upper body just to keep some variety in the time spent training.  In addition, I started the running and biking thing to lose weight and the arms were getting flabby.  I added core training because it helped with the biking and running.  Occasionally I will do some leg training, but I am careful with this depending on the run and bike schedule.  I also play ice hockey in the winter and the upper body strength helps with this.

I think if I had to make a time choice, I would eliminate the upper body weight training, but I feel the core training is important to improving the S/B/R.

No proven benefits for a triathlete unless you are rehabing an injury. 

You don't like it. 

Seems like an easy decision.  Skip it and just s/b/r.  That's the way to address any limiters.  Strength is not a limiter for most any triathlete in any of the 3 sports.  "Specificity" will provide far more benefit.

Didn't Tiger Woods start lifting and it helped with his game? I mean who'd think lifting and golf would go together right?

Strength would seem to lend well to both performance and endurance as long as its done with moderation and not at the cost of core or sport specific training.

I may be reading this wrong, but even at 225 pounds, six miles per week on concrete would not likely make anybody a candidate for overuse injuries. Certainly doesn't support strength training as a cure.

This is not a myth, and you misrepresented the point being made.  There was no claim made of lifting burning more calories.  Having more muscle mass gained from lifting DOES raise your basal metabolic rate.  There's little, if any difference in basal metabolic rate from aerobic exercise.