Compromise exactly. The stock suspension set up was compromise too. That's why we try and modify things to suit our purpose. 
The steering wheel could have been made adjustable, I know of one owner who did install tilt set up. Is it safe though? :)

The compromise with the steering column was purely financial. 

alistair

On 2011-12-11, at 10:16 AM, mcneely4@COX.NET wrote:

> ---- Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote: 
>> How about something as fundamental as being able to see the gauges? 
>> The steering wheel blocks my view of half the speedo and tach. I guess I shouldn't complain, those VW engineers know better than me what I should and shouldn't be able to see :)
> 
> Alistair, you are correct, there are things that could have been done better, most likely due to compromise ("Dammit, Wolfgang, we need to make the steering wheel interfere less with the line of sight for the instruments."   "Well, Hans, unless we increase the distance between the dash and the seat, which is not practical to do, the only way is to make the wheel bigger.  But then it will occlude the bottom of the windscreen."  I guess it is all compromise, including essential mechanical features.
> 
> And, I have added an oil pressure gauge, something I think all vehicles should have, but what do I know?
> 
> mcneely