I've got a book (the ultimate guitar book, or something like that)
I think that strat was made when Fender were up shit creek and needed to save on the expense of the shitty jack plate and extra pot.
Anyway, I like it. It's probably as cool as a strat can be.
These were the end of the line for Fender. The finish, pickups, everything are pure crap. They had to get the guys from Greco (later Fender Japan) to jet over and rescue their shit.
I wish my Strat had that type jack.
Using a cord with a 90 plug on it sucks.
In fact Tele jack placement sucks too.
I have a 60's Elger Tele copy with the jack on the control plate, great idea!