As of today I can comment on this thread, I am away at a conference and rented a bike for an early morning ride before the sessions got started. Thanks to the LGRAB Summer Contest I was motivated to try out another style of bike. I rode a flat bar road bike today. Woo hoo!

I can understand the allure of riding a road bike after my ride today. Not quite my style yet, perhaps some day in the future They are agile and fast and it seemed like it could roll forever.

I had a drop bar 10 speed bike as a teen and young adult and honestly can't remember it being uncomfortable but I do like a more upright position now for many reasons mentioned here, namely arthritis and wrist pain. Perhaps another test ride some day will be with drop bars to see the difference. In the mean time, the answer to the question of why someone would use a flat bar sounds like it's twofold. Physical reasons and perceptions.