You might disagree but walk into home depot, this style is plenty popular. I would say more popular when I was renting.

I'd rather have them at eye level easier to see from across the room and have them away from kids.

It's amazing how many people project their wants and needs based on their limited experience.

In the US and Canada (not sure about elsewhere), you only really see the buttons on the front if they're ADA accessible.

I'm assuming you're from Europe, and as such probably are using a gas stove. The front makes sense for gas because it's wasting a ton of gas to heat up air that goes around your food instead of into it. This means the air above the stove is really hot and will likely burn you, so the dials need to be in the front. For electric stoves, there's a lot less energy wasted. Almost all of the emerge goes directly into your pots/pans so the air above is relatively cool, unless you're boiling water or something. Having the dials in the back is easier to see while cooking and more childproof.

Never seen a stove with knobs on the front outside of restaurant kitchens. I've been in many houses of varying wealth levels, and never seen that unless in a residential kitchen.

I agree it's better, but not normal. Most ranges are like this

You have to reach over hot bits in the front to get to hot bits in the back when cooking anyways... once again, for a normal sized adult this poses literally 0 risk of anything.

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

I think when they lean over open flame, something in their mind clicks and they think that something is definetly wrong.