I'm building a LHT within a month. I went the bar-end route mostly because I've never owned a bike with them. And I'm putting these on because they look badass:
http://www.excelsports.com/image/TRP...e%20Levers.jpg
Set up will be Dura-Ace 10-speed bar end, KMC chain, Tiagra derailleurs, and 11-32t cassette. Velo-Orange just about everything else. I'm setting it up for a nice commuter bike more than a touring set-up.
Bar-end shifters are much less expensive btw.