I don’t know much about this, but in my understanding, it’s not that the handle hides in the door, but the fact that the latch inside is electronic. Using a mechanical latch that will work even without any electrical power would solve the problem.
And almost nobody noticed. I used to read Dilbert, I bought his books and loved them. But the racism was always there, in Asok jokes and even in the Elbonians.
The old 747 Jumbos had the middle row with 5 or even 6 seats, if I remember correctly.