I’ve never known a modern stove to have the controls anywhere else, and I’ve never really considered reaching over a pot or pan to turn the thing off. Most of the time, I’ll take the pot or pan off the stove first so it doesn’t burn. And if I am simply turning down the heat to go from boiling to simmering, I go around not over.

I can totally see where you’re coming from tho. I grew up with this style; I’ve been tempered by the grease and steam of experience lol