Hmm, Campagnolo had bar shifters in the 50s. Back in the 70s, (my time) they were popular with tourists and a few racers. They require you to be on the drops; if that's where you ride, its good; if not they're awkward. They are a little fiddly, not the same feel as downtube shifters; maybe the cable lengths, maybe the throw of the shorter lever. Like anything, they an be adapted to. My stepfather's 50s bike had them and he loved them. I knew a racer in the seventies who had a fingertip (that's what we called em) for the front and a downtube for the rear and thought it was his edge because he could be shifting both at once. I've had Campagnolo on a few bikes, no problem but not my first choice, though I have to admit the racheted Suntours are probably better. But I tend to avoid Japanese stuff, as when I was getting interested in this stuff, Campagnolo was what we aspired to. The Japanese stuff works really well, it just has no romance for me!