I can't really say why cats have the main cam cleats mounted like they do, just that all cats I've sailed were like this. Maybe someone else could provide a technical answer to that.
At one point I adjusted the cleat so that I just had to pull the sheet to me and it cleated, then to release it I had to snap the line down. On a heavy day, I couldn't release it fast enough and over I went. So now I have the cleat angled up, and have to hold the up to cleat it. Yea its a bit of a pain, but it releases real easy and I'd rather have that.
I used to sail mono hulls and there were a number of things I had to get used to, now its like second nature, so its something you should get used to over time.
So besides the main sheet/cam position, how was the sail?