I agree mode 1 looks odd, and I spent half a century driving on the left, only to spend the last 4 years driving on the right (well, most of the time!).

However, if you think about it, controlling the tail of the aircraft with just the one stick seems logical for some aerobatics (like spins) and landing a model that tends to tip stall would probably be easier, as you have the throttle on one stick and the rudder on the other, which would have to tendency to stop you using the ailerons to correct a bit of roll, which could end up as a snap if you aren't careful!

-David C.