Component select mode - is there a faster way?

I’m wondering if there’s a better way to choose components in edit mode? I feel CTRL+tab to be really clumsy and it took my hand away from the main keys on my keyboard. How do you guys do it?

http://www.blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?375454-Mesh-select-mode-in-pie-menus&p=2899017&viewfull=1#post2899017

Ah this should be cool. Thanks mate!