Understanding Randonneur Bend Bars

[bobscott]

I have seen that a number of posters here like rando bend bars. I only rode a few minutes on a pair on a too small bike a number of years ago but did not like them. My complaint was that the flair which produces more space and comfort while riding on the drops makes riding on the lever hoods uncomfortable. On rando ones hands rest on the transition between the top and the side of the lever hoods which is less comfortable. This seems to be an unreasonable sacrifice as the lever hoods are nice place to rest ones hands. They are well padded and allow access to at least the brakes and possibly the shifters. It seems to me that if one is going to spend long hours on the bike, the top of the hood hand position is one that should be optimized which rando bends do not do. I also found the brake levers less accessible although that might have been from habit.

What am I missing here, where does the love for this bend come from?
thanks,
bobscott