If you click on my Giant FCR3 link below it will show you my setup. I have changed a couple of things but nothing major. I chose Shimano Bar Ends for the mere fact that the total shifting/braking setup was about 1/5th the price of a brifter setup. Plus, this allowed me to still use regular vbrakes with the Tektro RL 520 long Pull levers. Most brifters require the use of some short pull braking system (i.e. Road Caliper or Short pull Cantilever)

Personally, I find adjusting the Bar ends and the V-brakes a crap load easier than my brifters/Calipers. I also found, that while having a Center or HB mounted storage bag for touring, that shifting down due to the brifters shifting (inwards) I had trouble if the bag is full.

Don't get me wrong, brifters are AWESOME, no doubt about it. There were just too many pro's for the Bar Ends for me to go with any other choice.

+1 on the Wide range of gears. You don't wanna be stuck going down hill on a long stretch on the road, with a fully loaded bike and not be able to pedal fast enough to keep up. I believe I use an 11x28 in the back and 30-42-52 Crankset. I am able to pedal fast and steady and have no problems spinning uphill with God Knows way too much stuff while keeping gears for downhill sections and level stretches..