Wow! Too bad about the bike, man, but it really HAS to happen. And the good thing is after that first time, the next scratches are nothing...
The weird thing I've noticed and you guys talked about is how the levers snap off just near the end where they are hollowed out. Seems to me if they were solid all the way down, they might make it through these little bumps.
But I suppose they're designed to snap off there instead of doing more damage? ie. cables?