Many of the small 2-stroke engines appear to have the recoil
starter positioned so that as one faced the engine the starter
is on the right and the prop on the left. With this configuration
when right-handed person uses their right hand to start the
engine the rest of their body is between the starter and the
prop. This seems to be sub-optimal for safety. Would it
not be better to have the recoil handle on the other side of
the engine so that when pulling the cord the right arm is the
part of the body closest to the prop with the rest of the body
farther away?

Is it possible in general to reposition (rotate) recoil starters
during installation so as to have a choice in the matter?

Also, many volksplanes are routine hand-propped. Is there
any reason why the small 2-cycle engines could not be hand
propped?