Khodges , not meaning to argue as I agree BUT early aircraft were set up whatever the designers felt personally they liked.obviously, the Wrights decided their hard to control machine was easier to fly seated. they changed designs as they found what worked better.many different systems were used intill it became more or less standardized by concencus. even then brakes(those that had them)and auxilary systems were applied differently on early as oposed to later models. even a s late as WWII , the british joystick functioned some what differntly than did American models , although directions were the same. landing gear levers were on opposie sides resulting in a pronounced "wobble "after take off from switching hands .