Not that I know what a "karate monkey" is, but I do know what city riding is and I do know different handlebars having raced road and mountain. Honestly, it's a personal preferance. A (long) while back, John Tomac did a season or MTB racing with drops on his bike, and eventually switched back to flat bars. I've got drops on my CX bike, and I'm usually all over the place on those, whether it be a trail, open road, or squeezing between taxis and buses in midtown Manhattan. I'd say think about safety with a city bike and go with the bars that will allow you the most control at slow and fast speeds, manueverability, and braking. Take a look at the rides of NYC messengers, and you'll see every bike and bar combo under the sun.