I think a lever is the way to go. I found a thinnish 9 0r 10 mm open end wrench makes a decent lever, in lieu of a $20+ Nitto tool. A thin layer of grease can't hurt. The lever and the grease conspire to help eliminate scratched bars. It also does need to be a road stem, with a thin area near the gap. This really does allow the curves to slip through.

And yes, rando bars can be very comfortable and a nice place to put your hands. I'd say the effort is worth it.