I like the first bit... People tend to put their bars lower these days, so YMMV.
I don't like the last bit. IMHO, there are a number of good reasons to run
tires just a bit soft. One of them is fewer flats. A harder tire will want to push harder against a sharp edge, increasing the chance it will get bitten.

The classic blast from the past is pure Merckx... Ride lots.