@Stan Galat wrote- "Given that I've bent a non-drilled VW handbrake in half, I think I'll pass."
This surprises me- I've done some asking around locally and no one I'd asked had bent one or ever heard of anyone else bending one. I didn't ask every VW owner I've met in the last little while, but thought I'd done enough of a sample that it was a non-issue. I'll run it and see how it goes.
PS- Stan, did you bend an early (long- 15 3/8") or later (short- 12½") handle?