Lets hope you don't need to say it or repeat it after the doc gives you the bad news!! 
Tim, man I don't know how to put this. To me the 450 is not that bad in the Ultra, but we are all different. I cannot say how it is for others & you have no idea how it would be for me. I may get a detached retina, but not from a 450 Marlin with a steel rod & a slip-on pad like I described that I have used unless I shot it from my forehead instead of my shoulder. When I said the need for the bar was questionable, the word is questionable & you would still need a good pad. It may be needed & may not be for some. The Ultra due to the Lam. stock is already heavier than the 45-70 syn. & some forks shoot the 45-70 syn with hot loads, my brother for one & it has a healthy kick. I feel that for alot of people, if they removed the rod & shot it, they would prefer to re-install it, but it is not for me to say.
I only gave my opinion as to how my rifle felt for
ME when
I shot it. Therefore, it may be good to try it first instead of thinking on the front end that they need a brake, mercury reducer & other things. Like Mac said, how the gun fits & a nice pad will go a long ways, just the way it is. Recoil is very subjective, I have seen small Women shoot big mags with no problem & big Male couch potatoes cringe at an '06's recoil.
I will make a point to NEVER again get into a recoil discussion on the NEF forum. I am sorry if I have confused anyone, but it will not happen again, I promise.