Yes, Jack, I have a "little" experience single-handing both tiller and wheel boats. About 5 years with a Venture 22 (tiller), 5 on a Cal 25 (tiller), 17 on a Catalina 36 (wheel with AH), 5 on a Crown 28 (wheel with AH), and about 4 on an Ontario 32 (wheel, no AH). That's... I donno... probably a hundred thousand miles if I was to add it all up. I sometimes had "guests" aboard but usually I sailed the boat myself anyway. Oh, and I've been in the Nanaimo Single-Handed Race about 10 times, often not doing too badly as a Cruiser against Racers.
I've had no trouble reaching sheets, traveller, halyards, etc. on a boat with a wheel. As I've said: I pretty much sit in exactly the same position with a wheel that I do with a tiller. And if I DO want to go somewhere beyond the reach of the wheel, I find it easier to lock the wheel than lash the tiller. It is MARGINALLY easier to use a sheet and bungee as a "poor man's autohelm" with a tiller, but it can be done with a wheel as well (but usually not necessary if you balance the boat right).
"Driving position"? Why is it less comfortable with a wheel? As I said, I normally sit on the coaming beside the wheel, same place as I would be with a tiller. For tacking (for instance) I will stand in front of the wheel so I can access the sheets, traveller, etc, reaching behind me to move the wheel when I need to. With a tiller, I would have the tiller between my legs while I did the ropework: not as easy or comfortable as the wheel, which tends to stay in the same place even if it's not locked.
But when I'm not racing I don't normally bother with the traveller, nor do I worry about where I sit wrt boat balance. I think a lot of what you're talking about has to do with racing, and I think most people agree that a tiller IS better for racing. But not for single-handing, imho.
druid