I like bar end shifters a bit more and it doesn't have anything to do with "retrogrouch" attitudes or any other pedantic nonsense. I built my bike up over time and it was easier/cheaper to upgrade the bike to bar-ends than it was to buy new brakes and brifters. I've had a few different derailleurs and cranks on this bike too so it's been nice to go from double to triple and back without having to buy new shifters. Bar-end shifters are nice for riders that like to spend time in the drops, I can shift with the palm of my hands. Brifters are nice for people that love riding in the hoods. Bar-ends are nice to run on bikes that have v-brakes or if one doesn't want to be tied to a brand of derailleur or number of gears, friction bar-ends play nicely with many different configurations and give the user some flexibility if replacement parts aren't as plentiful as they could be. On a new bike I wouldn't worry about having to replace any parts for a while so I'd just ride whichever came on the bike if I was going new.