Hi Phil!
Is this a death trap?
Well, maybe, but I sure admire your thoughtful innovation! Such efforts often result in making a bicycle more well-suited to one's own needs, but in this case, I would suggest some caution.
First, you're going to have far less leverage especially if you carry a load. If you are unladen, there is still the phenomena of "bump-steer" commonly discussed in automotive suspension and steering design. In bicycles, it manifests as the handlebars and wheel deflecting to one side on hitting an obstacle, such as a rock. My biggest concern (since you said you're not putting much more weight on the bar-ends) is the lack of leverage in that position to overcome bump-steer.
Second, placing the bar-ends so they face rearward complicates the problem and can lead to handling problems because you're placing a lot of weight at the steering axis rather than forward of it. Yes, it helps to have cargo weight centered around the steering axis (my steerer-mounted water bottles come to mind), but that is different from rider weight and also different from what is optimal for controlling the bike. Most bar-ends work well because they extend forward, increasing leverage by "extending the tiller". These are located in such a way as to reduce leverage fore-aft as well as side-to-side. What you have here amounts to a "zero-reach" stem.
Third, I am concerned about the lack of brakes in that position. In the event of something unforeseen -- say, a car blowing through a stop sign -- it would be a long, long way up to the regular brakes. I think a set of cross-top or interrupter levers could be modified to allow braking from the new position, but that puts you back to the problem of too little steering leverage to handle bump-steer.
Fourth, I'm not sure the Thorn Accessory T-bar is really rated to carry as much weight as you will/may place on it. Looking at the wall thickness of mine, it is likely far less robust than a proper stem-handlebar combo. It is really intended as a means to mount a handlebar bag or lights and bells and such.
You've got a real winner with the homemade Click-Stand, however! It looks great and should work fine. I would suggest checking it with a touring load before departing on a big trip (look for excess bowing), but the concept and execution look fine -- well-done!
Hope this helps and isn't too discouraging, Phil. I just don't want you to risk getting hurt, and I fear the bar-ends-on T-bar idea is not quite there in terms of safety in an emergency.
All the best,
Dan.
