Gravel bike specific brake hoods and levers

With gravel bikes becoming more and more capable, especially the ones leaning closer to a drop bar mtb, I've been wondering why theres not some kind of hybrid brake hood and or brake lever options. smaller more mtb style 1 finger brake levers, maybe thumb shifters, but still having some sort of hood shape? unless i'm just not aware of it.  
 
Some of these bikes could be about as good as a rigid MTB or better if you're running some front suspension, but at least for me, at that point, the standard brake hoods and levers are the limiting factor.

I guess a big problem is most flared drop bars are designed around normal brake hoods, so say if you had a different hood shape that put your hands in more of a mtb attack mode position, the bends in a typical drop bar would probably make it awkward. 

I'm not even sure what it would look like, its hard to visualize, but it seems like something that would have some demand as these bikes get more capable. i know you could just throw some jones bars or something on that doesnt have a drop. but it would be nice to still have drops to get you into a faster aero position for long easy stretches, but have a capable more mtb style grip when you're doing singletrack or something.  

does something like this exist that i'm just not aware of? 

It's a bit hard to imagine what you want exactly. If that "hood shape" is seperate from the shifters and brake levers so you have to move your hand to reach them then count me out. Just like bar ends, I hate that. 

Might be just me but I never hold the hoods when the going gets rough. I find the drops a much more secure position, almost straight bar like. Of course it's never going to be as stable as a super wide straight bar. 

On a rough descend if I hold the hoods I barely have control over the bike, the brakes, and it feels like the handlebars are going to rattle out of my hands. Then I go to the drops and I can go even faster and feel way more secure. I can grip the handlebars firmly but still relax my arms to absorb the bumps. Personally I very rarely hold the drops to be more "aero". 

IMO there is no need. It's the usual argument which a lot of the time is not true, but in this case I think it is. If you want to turn your gravel bike into an MTB, just get an MTB. I know, doesn't really sound open minded, just my opinion. 

I was looking for a new gravel frame that could take 2.2-2.3 tyres, a 180 rotor etc. Then I realised I would be better off on a hardtail...

mrsa wrote:

I guess a big problem is most flared drop bars are designed around normal brake hoods, so say if you had a different hood shape that put your hands in more of a mtb attack mode position, the bends in a typical drop bar would probably make it awkward. 

When you say most flared bars and typical drop bars are you referring to a widened road bar, something like the Salsa Cowbell and Cowchipper, or one of the more aggressive drop MTB bars like the Salsa Woodchipper?

The latter, while still meant to be paired with typical road hoods, are designed to be mounted higher so you spend more time on the long, straight drops, and really give you that attack mode that barturtle mentioned. Depending where and how you grab, maybe this puts your brake lever in a more 1 finger MTB style orientation?

I have not ridden this style so no personal experience.