I prefer side mounted jacks too. I rarely play sitting down and when I do I don't find them to be an issue. You can move a top mounted jack to the side but of course it is a project, not just a simple swap. You can probably find some use for the extra hole and if not a cheap pot and knob will fill it nicely and make it look like you did. There is nothing silly about this issue either, what makes our preferences silly and you nay-sayer's preferences Earth shattering? Only your own imagination!!!
Ken
