Kalunga:
That article by Don Heath (if its the one I'm thinking of) is a few years old now, and he did capitulate grudgingly in a follow-up article some months later (I was subscribing to African Hunter at the time).

Personally, I don't own any bolt rifles with Winchester-style 3-position safeties, but if I were fitting one to a Mauser 98 I would agree with Don's original observations and fit a left-handed version (I'm right handed). My early experience with bolt-rifles is with the Lee Enfield, which has its safety high on the left side, works perfectly for a right-handed shooter.

I don't know anyone who doesn't wrap their thumb over the grip, especially for the big-kickers we're usually talking about on this forum.