Pete,
I like everything about your design and build except for how far the handle extends up when not in use, which would probably mean most of the time.
I was thiking would there be a way maybe to cut the rod in half and thread it on the inside, like the rods on shelving units and then use a threaded connector to join the two halfs.
So when not in use you would unthread the top and since you have the wire running through it, it would still have to be attached to the unit, but lying horizontal. That would be unless you notched the wood of the bracket to accomodate the wire coming out a hole in the top of the lower tube, for use when the unit is down.
Do you think this would be an improvement or am I overthinking what really isn't something that bothers you? And thank you for posting pictures of your build. I do appreciated that and enjoyed watching it.
Steve