Joel, I think a properly mounted bullbar would aid in distributing an offset frontal impact to some degree and a square on frontal more so. I recall seeing a Topgear where they crashed a new renault mini type car into a late 80s volvo. the volvo was demolished yet the renault could open doors. Part of the reason they said, was the large alloy solid bar tieing the front together and spreading the impact evenly across the whole structure.
This may not work in all cases and types of structures but would help I think. I feel there is not enough research and real world testing in regards to this. There seems to just be a blanket we dont like bars , period.
Cheers Scott