Might want to look at that again. I don't have the plans in front of me, but I remember looking at them for quite a while before I understood that the angle was put there so the handle would sit *horizontal* on the panel, and parallel to the panel as well. The linkage it attaches to behind the sub-panel rotates, moving the end of the actuating rod from side-to-side as the rod is pushed in.
On my -6, when the handle is pulled out, the "T" part of the handle sits at an angle to the panel, and the long rod is perpendicular to the panel. When the rod is pushed in, the T-handle is horizontal and parallel to the panel (and about an inch out from the panel, the way i've set it up). The long rod is no longer perpendicular, it points off towards my oil door, but it's hidden behind the panel.