How does the shift knob hit your leg? It's not even close!
I drive mostly manual (a Pure so no paddles) using the shift knob. I'm 6' tall and the shift knob is on a different plane nowhere near my legs. My only complaint is that it could use a little more "notch" style resistance to better indicate a successful shift (lacking that, I simply toggle until I hit the end, not as ideal, but works).