Depends what you fly and how possessed the lever is.
It's no big deal on an aircraft with some mass that behaves itself, applying some extra friction and resting your hand on your leg is better posture in the cruise and a non-event to slide It over a couple of inches when required.
Startle effect is more about processing that you need to take action than the additional tenth of a second it will take to move your hand the extra inch.
What gets taught and what is practical in the real world aren't always the same thing.
Last edited by Bell_ringer; 10th Aug 2019 at 15:24.