I wouldn't go with Sora brifters, unless they're the brand new ones, and I think those are 10-speed only. How much more does Tiagra cost?

Personally, I don't like bar end shifters. I've only had to rely on them here and there, and there's a good chance I'd get used to them if I rode them more regularly, instead of for a little while here and there, punctuated by enough time to forget. But I wasn't a fan of having to move my hands from whatever position was right at the time, to shift. My ex girlfriend loved her Cross Check, though, and wouldn't think about changing them.