My theory is simple. If you take people that know absolutely nothing about cars (My wife as an example) and every time they (she) activates the window they (she) gets the up/down window switches wrong.
Conclusion, they are wrong.

As far as the handbrake is concerned is it possible that AM did not do a left foot activated handbrake pedal so as not to have four pedals on the floor?

 

As for the handbrake location, could be a similar story to left side Porsche ignition.

In the original days of sports car racing, drivers ran to their car at the start. Manufacturers had creative positioning of controls so drivers could use both hands simultaneously and save valuable seconds off the line.

Pretty cool to keep with tradition.