You certainly look handy on your Freeper page. I had one of my bicycles modified as you described 15 years ago by having "North Road" handlebars installed on my Trek 7200. This worked very well and was much more ergonomic for me than the flat handlebars it originally came with. After that I added triathlon bars to it so that I could crouch down and be more aerodynamic in a headwind by supporting myself on my elbows. It's an odd combination but it works suprisingly well.
Since then I have slowly started doing more of my own maintenance until now I enjoy restoring older European (mostly English, Dutch, and German) bicycles and recumbent bicycles. I now find bicycle maintenance an enjoyable pursuit on its own but it allows me to own and ride a much wider variety of bicycles than I would previously have been able to afford.
I did manage to adjust my seat up and forward and got more power. I went up a gear in average when riding. Amazing what an inch here and there can do. Swept back (slightly) handlebar lets me tug better and also stand better on the peddles.
These days bicycle sizing is a big thing and highly recommended by all.