Bar end shifters are much beloved by many, but some of us find that they get bumped out of gear when the bike is parked. Some of us also find that we bang our knees on them. If and when I want to go super simple I use down tube shifters, which BTW could be carried as a repair item if you are paranoid about STI breakage.

I found the knee bumping issue too-then switched out to wider handlebars, issue solved. Don't remember ever getting bumped outta gear when parked, but I can easily see your point. I'll call it a case of tunnel vision, but when I had the chance to put downtube shifters on my new 520, it never entered my mind until yesterday actually. Bikes done now, so no turning back Barcons in!

Back at you cycco!