[Silverface]

"...the end of the lever is behind the saddle area,"

Now, to me, that's just as limiting as it being *over* the saddle area.

Over the saddle = lose right hand damping; cut short, you can bend and play mellower notes away from the bridge. It'd be darned hard to flat to hybrid pick up near the neck pickup (a position I use quite often for mellower passages - you can change tone instantly just be right-hand movement) and use the bender.

So to me, shortening the lever is just as limiting as having it stock. 45-degrees off to the side - same issues; you're locked into right hand positions. If you LIKE to play in one spot most of the time it'd be fine.

I don't, and to me you're taking away half the tone and about a 3rd of the attack. I'm not just guessing - I've *tried* all these methods with palm units. I find them extremely limiting. But if they work for you, great.