Are you talking about the FXR3?
Actually those risers work very well with the bike, and if you are talking about the FXR3 the risers are chrome while on the FXR2 they are indeed simply brushed aluminum or polished aluminum.
Whatever you do, don't get rid of them, in fact get rid of very little you take off the bike to do other things with....
To answer your question those risers are pretty much the perfect height for doing pretty much anything you want to do with handlebars.....of course unless you are talking about putting apes on the bike....NO NO NO...lol
and as far as has anyone done what you are suggesting....some probably have but more have left them alone....the more miles you put on the bike the more you will agree that they are pretty comfortable....just take getting use to them a bit as compared to other rides.
Regards,
Tim