"While this may be true for you, it does not apply to everyone."

- very true; thats why I qualified it as my opinion.

"Plus the original poster did not ask our opinion on his/her choice of handlebars."

Fair enough. He did mention straight bars, so I offered my opinion on them. I agree with your premise that what works for one may not work for another; but the basis of my unsollicted offering was the assumption that most people dont find several hours of numb fingers to be 'perfect for me'

peace out; happy pedaling.