I used to have Microshift 10-speed bar end shifters on my bent (tadpole).
The rear 10 was set to indexed mode, the front tripple friction.
The first rear indexed worked well (free to move and once set held it's indexing, no need for continual adjustment). But the pivot bolt gradually worked lose and going over a bump (eg level crossing) would suddenly self-shift down to small rear cog. I ended up riding with an allen key and every few rides I'd be tightening the bolt (a very easy procedure to set correctly). In the end got the shifter replaced under warranty and replacement fine.
Front triple friction held its setting fine but also used a lot less.
For other reasone I upgraded rear to Rohloff (switching to Rohloff twist shifter) but kept front fristion level but now on a double. Front still fine but normally only used a few times on a ride and in Flatlandia most riding on the larger front chainwheel.
Overall I regard them as OK, they work (subject to what must have been a faulty one).
I never considered them on my upright as touring I'd worry about them being more vulnerable when bike resting against all sorts of less secure things, laying on campsite ground overnight, etc. But I have no evidence they wouldn't take this, just speculation and I like my STIs anyway.
