I see what you mean, no problems with that, but it also have its own issues.
Like what if you are on foot leading an infantry group vs the enemy, do you really want to be infront of the troops or in the middle of them then?
Read if you are in front of the line you are meatshield.
When I do the hideouts I just tell'em to do F3 + F4, or if I "feel" them going to bypass me, I'll just hit F1 to make'em stop in a spot, then snipe the ppl I want with my arrows, bit more micromanageing sure, but anyways.
My opinion is that this isnt the right part of the forums for it, should have been posted in the "suggestions" instead.
As its not a "bug/technical" issue, but a design decision.