You can still get the equivalent of "brake extentions." They now call them "interrupters." I assume that's because instead of a being a lever that directly acts on the primary brake lever, they actuate the brake cable. THat allows them to be mounted independently of the main brake lever for better ergonomics. I have 'em on my two drop bar bikes. I commute am in traffic a fair deal where having brakes "handy" is important. In some situations I want to ride with my hands on the upper bar to gain some height to see better. Or just to vary my hand position as the older I get, the more hand discomfort I experience. The main brake lever is available when riding on the hoods or in the drops. I still use toe clips as I can wear a variety of shoes, although I have a dedicated pair of firm-soled skateboard "sneakers" I mostly wear. And my '83 Nishiki International has downtube shifters which work just fine for non-competitive riding. I echo the advice above...find a bike shop and try some stuff out. And don't sweat the first bike you buy too much...after riding for a few months you will discover what works for you and what doesn't. For me, a commuter, one of the biggest changes in cycling is bike lanes and drivers. Bike lanes and bike infrastructure are better than ever; drivers are worse and more distracted than ever.