Yes, those hoods are large. Another thing you might consider is splitting the braking and shifting functions by going with old-style aero levers and bar-end shifters. Not a terribly expensive switch-out and maybe you can ebay your used brifters. There are small-hand aero levers made, but I don't recall by whom. FB will probably know. They all have much smaller hoods, in any case. If it were me, I'd put safety first, convenience second. I really hate getting injured. Second on the Kool-Stop salmon pads. Also wipe your rims with alcohol every couple days. This makes a bigger difference than one might think.
I have powerful hands, and I can't skid my wheels from the hoods, either. The most important things are constant situational awareness, leaving everyone else enough room to screw up however they're going to, and never assuming anything.