Round One: "The operation was a success, but the patient died."

In a previous thread, I discussed disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling SunTour LD-1100 stem-mounted shifters. Unfortunately, when shifting on a repair stand, the right/rear shifter failed to stay in-place, due to an aged and weak ratchet spring. With no replacement parts (new or cannibalized), Round One goes to the opponent.

Round Two: Grifters, Drifters, and Brifters

In another post, I asked about replacing the stem-mounted shifters with a pair of Shimano "Sora" 7-speed brifters. That's where the project stands, today. But I've never ridden a brifter-equipped bike. I've read the retro roadies- old frames with STI's or Ergos thread (fantastic!), but I'm not sure about "mixing-and-matching" components; to be honest, I'd like to stay with as many original, or period-correct components as possible. I could still do so, but it would entail either:

• Finding-and-buying set of used-or-NOS clamp-on shifters; or
• Finding-and-buying another Suntour LD-1100 stem-mounted shifter; or
• Buying this IRD Stem Quill Shifter Mount from Rivendell Bikes, AND finding-and-buying a pair of used-or-NOS braze-on downtube shifters; or
• Buying a pair of bar-end shifters.

The first option doesn't thrill me: I'm not particularly fond of downtube shifters. I like the second and third options, because the location is good for me and my type of riding; and, Suntour shifters are both plentiful and affordable; but "once burned, twice shy", and I'm wary of buying another pair of those Suntour LD-1100 shifters -- whether used, or NOS, they're going to be 30+ years old (OK, I'm 61), and I've already had my problem with a used one. As for the fourth option, bar-end shifters, I have them (7-speed Suntour, indexed) on my Bianchi Volpe, but I'm not crazy about them.

What to do? Whichever one I choose, more money!