You're both right!
It is a better location for shorthanded sailing (or with crew for that matter). And it will be a bit underfoot at
anchor.
What many owners do is install a quick disconnect on the mainsheet system so they can get that clutter out of the cockpit (clip it off to the side somewhere) while at
anchor, reducing the obstacles somewhat. I've even seen some quick disconnect travellers that can be pivoted out of the way -- but that gets pretty involved as a retrofit.
I don't see much of a connection to cockpit drainage.