I have a bit of bend but not enough to allow the high E to ring out clearly. I've kind of always assumed for Rock music it doesn't really matter and I think it's just a doubled chord tone anyway (the 5th?) which is also played by the ring finger barre on the D string. So I think the most important thing might be to just make sure you are not allowing the ring finger barre to sound the high E string.[br][br]Maybe I'm just sloppy! So by all means, wouldn't want you to stop trying, but I wouldn't let it hold you back from using the shape.

[Edit: Oh just re-read your question again, and now I realize I'm not sure if you are saying your main problem is that you can't get the high E to ring clearly with the index finger barre, or if you're just saying you can't get any of the ring finger chord tones to ring out cleanly? I have seen some people use the pinky for that barre instead. Not sure if that's because they have more bend in the pinky. I don't.][br][br]Good luck[br]Martin