Interesting - I hadn't thought about the preload stress but I'm not sure that's too much of an issue over the life of the bar. However, I definitely agree that the plates should be inline with the bar. I imagine the Ralliart bar in the pic at the top-o-thread is raised to make more space in the trunk.

 

I used jm series rod ends on the strut brace I made.With right and left hand thread, the bar can preload in tension or compression.

 

Nice!