The S1 Cafe - Helping Your Espresso Dreams Become Reality

The ideal spot for the pressure gauges is to the right of the control panel where that large S1 decal is. Trying to bend down and read the current gauge through a coffee-steam-haze around a cup or shot glass is far from ideal.

Unfortunately, there is not enough room behind the panel in that area to put it with the current internal lay out, but functionally that is where it belongs.

I concur.
The QuickMill machines have them in a great spot, where you don't have to bend your behind over to read them like the S1. But that's a whole different design and who knows what kind of makeover the S1 would need to move the gauge in an easily viewable location. I love the looks of the machine the way it is, I haven't spent much time on the insides like you have so I trust what you say about how difficult this would be.
Who knows, the VIII might look completely different.