yeah i change gear fine, and i have my hands covering the brakes mainly, a little higher up than what you'd imagine, im rarely holding the grips in a normal position, thats the beauty of the mutli position H bARS.
as for the flats, they saved my life years back in a car accident, (car T boned me at a junction) always used them.....feel so much safer with them, and means i can jump on a bike regardless off what i have on my feet.