You can get powder coat done thickly or lightly. I use powdercoated bars and they fit fine, you're better off removing it at the clamp part though.
You might be able to get contrasting powdercoat, you'd need to get it done all one colour to begin with using a powder that wont remelt, then mask it and do the lugs. Also I think you can get some powdercoat in sheets, that may just be patterned stuff though. If it isn't possible powdercoat makes a pretty good primer for regular paint.