[cadamsdotcom]

Some paradigms are simply ergonomic. Sometimes there's only one UX people will accept.

No one would buy a car steered with pedals; even if that is better (hey planes do it!) - every car maker is "copying" steering wheels and putting them on their cars. Is it controversial? If not why not?

[mh-]

It wasn't controversial because there was about 200 years of prior art from sailing ships.

(Before the wheel, ships were steered with tillers - which early cars also tried, interface-wise.)