Comfort and Convenience
Seating preferences differ because people differ: height, leg length and how far someone likes to sit from the wheel all vary. A position one driver finds natural can feel wrong to another.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Spending a moment with wipers, lights and mirrors before setting off means fewer distractions once moving. Rental and shared cars especially reward this, since familiar functions are not always where they are expected.
Multimedia and Connectivity
Keeping a phone charged on a long drive is a separate matter from playing music through the speakers. Where charging is available it addresses battery life only; calls and audio depend on their own connection.