I use an old mountain bike with slick tires for riding gravel roads (a 1991 team specialized stumpjumper). I've used bar ends in the past but went with at trekking style bar as the extra hand positions are a definite plus. This is my set up. Or take a look at any of surly's offroad adventure set ups. This is a niche market but that's where hand positions make a real difference. The surlys don't come stock with bar ends but it's the same basic idea which is to maximize hand positions. So I think the answer to your question is they make sense depending on the kind of riding you do in Kuglutuk, Nunavut. I'll bet there are some awesome gravel roads where you live. There are a lot of gravel roads in Iowa as well but rolling hills in farmland are not quite as scenic as what you must see when you go riding.