I'm not sure how bar ends provide cushioning and I'm also not certain that a flat bar rider needs to wrap the whole bar with tape meant for drops. FWIW, I am also a drop bar convert. It has been costly migrating four bikes to drops, one of them a tandem. I'm even planning to put drops on one of my folders. I am only going to leave one tandem and one folder with flat-bars. There are only two ways to go with flat-bars: 1. a bar placement that is higher than your seat height - 2" minimum difference. 2. A bend like a Northroad bend that brings the grips to you and a bar placement that is higher than your seat height. You'll be comfortable and your hands won't hurt but you will not be in a very dynamic position for trips longer than a couple or few miles. For me and my kind of commuting (~7 - 10mi. rolling terrain) drops have proven to be the better choice.

H