But most of my rides are solo and I spend most of my time in the drops. Hoods are for relaxing or slow climbs.
I also dispute that you'd get fitter with a heavier bike. That only applies if you fail to apply the LeMond principle that it never gets easier, you just go faster. I can only work so much beyond my limits on any bike but a faster bike means that those limits are that much faster. Need to work harder? Just go faster.