Horses for courses. Myself I prefer higher bars but wouldn't spend a dime to alter the bars on any bike unless they get bent in a crash. Higher bars (within reason of course) are easier to live with come winter as you are in a better position to see and react to ice, my bmw and my 550 both had quite sit up and beg positions and bar the sidecar were the most stable things on ice and snow, that and the old school narrow rear tyre make them far supirior to modern bikes come winter commuting. No coincidence that I did over a decade on the old sit up and beg machines, and much higher milage with no misshaps, and on modern bikes that I ride as disposable cheap wheels I have had 2 offs in 3 years.