Got the 8 degree welded aluminum bars back from the fab shop today, got them installed and took a short (30 minute) ride. My first impression is that I got the angle right for me. Close my eyes and let my hands drop onto the grips, and they fall in exactly the right position. Comfort was much improved, despite the fact that I did not even put on any gloves. Now that I have seen them and handled them, I am pretty well confident that they exceed the strength requirement by a wide margin. Hope I get a chance to put a few hundred miles on them before too long.
I agree that steel would be heavy, but the simplicity of using a single piece of 7/8 round bar, versus welding caps onto tubing, keeps the cost reasonable. I think the C14 could probably pull the extra 4-5 lbs. Fab shop plan is to cut the length of bar required, bore and tap the end threads on a lathe, then heat and bend it to the proper angle. Pretty simple, and cost would be under $160 for both bars. As mentioned here earlier, talk about extreme anti-vibration bar weights!
I'm on the fence for now, I may give it a few weeks to decide whether or not I can learn to trust the welds.