I think you are right, Hitch. they need to be about 8" higher for the average person probably to be able to lean over naturally. End up bending from the wrong place :o
On the dragons den program, someone presented this idea and got £60k investment to sell it. http://www.bak-jak.co.uk/how-it-works.html
marketed for Car maintenance and trade work - the pics really show WHERE should be bending from!
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?"
She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.