The cables should be reasonably tight when the lever is all the way forward. They will loosen some with use anyway (and will slip if not clamped tight enough). Also you don't want them so loose that with the lever pulled back as far as it will go it still won't shift all the way.

The next time I have to ride up a steep hill I intend to leave my pedals at home to make the bike lighter.

I just hate it when my sword gets caught in the spokes. Something like that can ruin your whole day.