I suspect an overwhelming majority of the 400 hour pilots that flew the B-17 in combat didn't have an issue with the cockpit layout, considering it was the only four engine aircraft they had ever flown.
The throttles were designed that way to provide simultaneous control of one side or of all four engines in one movement. Adjustments had to be made often to keep the aircraft in the tight combat box formation.
Last edited by ThreeThreeMike; 27th Oct 2019 at 08:17.