Personal taste, I guess. I have aftermarket seats on lowered brackets, and set further back, so I could probably use BOTH the lowering bracket and the extended column. I also use a smaller aftermarket wheel, so entering and exiting the car is no problem even with the column dropped. I never really did like the "bus driver" stance of the stock column position, even in the Mini I owned back in the 70's. I dropped the column and fitted a smaller deep-dish wheel in that one too.

That Kidspeed bracket looks very nice, but can't tell how it can pinch the pinch bracket under it enough to clamp to the collumn.  Also, a question I have always had, but never asked; Why does everyone seem to want the steering column dropped?  I always wanted mine raised!  I removed 3 of those brackets from cars I have bought, and tossed them in the bin. I had to make a custom bracket and a 4" longer steering collumn to get mine up higher, and back far enough, for better leverage on the wheel.  It also helps when getting in/out of the seat.  Yes, I'm tall, but lots of guys are taller than me; so why the drop brackets? 

I'm having some made up at the moment. Probably be in the $35 range or so. Right now they are painted black steel, but may be available in polished stainless in the future. Very similar to the Kiddspeed one.

i'm making mine using the stem of my old hoffman bmx bike. it will be sturdy as hell, but it will require a custom mount to the dash bottom shelf.

The guy in Australia has one of the billet aluminum ones up for sale now. Nice but very pricey!

//www.ebay.com.au/itm/Morris-Austin-Cooper-S-Mini-steering-drop-bracket-/270824958953?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f0e6cebe9

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Morris-Austin-Cooper-S-Mini-steering-drop-bracket-/270824958953?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_

I've seen a billet version on Oz Ebay recently but not right now.

That is a good price for a polished stainless one as I made a few in plain steel for $35 each over a year ago.

//www.kiddspeed.bigcartel.com/

I have a Kiddspeed in my mini as well. Very nice and sturdy.

Here's one I purchased from Kiddspeed in the UK

I just use two of the 2A515 rocker pedestal lockplates, a couple bolts and a bit of tube for a spacer in the dash bracket.  Not the newfangled lockplates, the original ones.  Tighten the snot out of the bolts and its good and stiff, those plates don't like to bend.

There are other types, though rare now.  I'll take a photo next time I'm near my Cooper S so you can see.  However, don't let that stop you from doing it yourself.  I do wonder if the later, MK IV+ 1980 onward regular steering column bracket is just much lighter.  Cheleker?  any insight?  

There's always somebody trying to build a better mousetrap, so I wonder if anyone has ever come up with a better steering column drop bracket than the aftermarket one that's currently available for the classic Mini? I'd like to find something that attaches to the existing holes but that holds the column more securely when the column is dropped all the way?