The optimum position is the target style, under the jaw anchor as used by Oly style shooters with sights. As you have a higher hand position, the higher it is the less effective your back becomes. In my experience, index finger under the cheek bone is about as high as you can go without compromising back tension.
I'd suggest that what you find is pretty common and one of the reasons that folks wishing to get a shorter point on is why they move toward fixed crawl or string wanking.
Arne