Any question answered...

What are the comfiest hooded drop bar brake levers without shifters?

Love my 2012 SRAM Rivals, but don't want to pay brifter money just to throw away the shifting bit.

If you like SRAM then s500 /900 no? Basically an apex / rival leaver with the shifting bits removed

This. Also tester approved.

buy brifters off ebay listed as the shifting mechanism no longer working.
remove shifting gubbins, throw it away. I like campag but if you like sram then that's your answer.

Well, yes, but why risk it when SRAM have done the work for you?

or just buy some nice variable spring tension dia-compes for £14.99 from Charliethebikemonger and win.

Maybe. Never used them myself. But if you like SRAM road hoods, it's a no brainer that you'll like the S500 hood and leaver shape.