Bar ends could snag things, but not nearly as much as the ultra wide bars now in fashion. When you can stand up and climb on a surface with good traction they allow you to "road bike" climb and use your upper body more effectively. They give you other hand positions on long rides. In the 1990s really wide bars were considered dorky by everyone "in with the in crowd". In the flat-bar-with-bar-ends era I would recommend 22" to 23" width to customers getting into the sport seeking advice for single track woods riding.