I don't think it's a waste of time if you're someone who learns from trial and error. After all, it is free to try, and regardless of how it turns out, you will have learned something. Personally, I don't subscribe to the two major schools of thought (wide to open up the lungs for breathing, and narrow to make one more aerodynamic). Nor, do I think that comfort if a given is the bars are as wide as your shoulders. I'm riding seven road bikes these days and have three different widths on handlebars... all pick for comfort on that particular bike.