Tool, is that you or your friend with the Kraft?
The Airtronics CS7SS that is pictured above is my first radio, purchased new when I started flying R/C in 1984. I have not flown with it in many years (probably 20 now), however Pete Waters went over it a few years back and narrow-banded it, so it's probably still good to go. The functionality is exactly like you described for your friend's Kraft. I felt then (still do now) that the main three on one hand and everything else on the other is more natural to use, and thus easier. However, the majority of you guys feel differently, and the single-stick design all but disappeared, so I've been Mode 2 like most everyone else since about 1990.
I think I'll drag out my old trainer soon, put a new battery in the single-stick, and see how it goes.