Some paradigms are simply ergonomic. Sometimes there's only one UX people will accept.

No one would buy a car steered with pedals; even if that is better (hey planes do it!) - every car maker is "copying" steering wheels and putting them on their cars. Is it controversial? If not why not?

It wasn't controversial because there was about 200 years of prior art from sailing ships.

(Before the wheel, ships were steered with tillers - which early cars also tried, interface-wise.)