My bike #1 has non-shimmed brake levers. They are hard to wrap my fingertips around. It's a bit scary on downhills. One day i want to switch that bike to levers that can be shimmed and made into short-reach levers.

My bike #2 has short reach brifters with shims in them. I can easily wrap my fingertips around the brakes from any hand position and I feel way safer going downhill. I love them.

I always put hands in the drops on steep downhills.

Put your weight BACK over the back of your saddle when going downhill. Don't put your weight on your hands.