Yes, this was common in some older configurations such as the older Yanagisawa here in the pics
, other sopranos inspired to and by this system took this and many are still using them while Yanagisawa no longer uses that.
It is not particularly difficult to use though. I have more problems with the older system of the left palm keys which you can find on the older models of Yanagisawa soprano, sopranino (and Mark VI) those I find very difficult to use.

It is not particularly difficult to use though. I have more problems with the older system of the left palm keys which you can find on the older models of Yanagisawa soprano, sopranino (and Mark VI) those I find very difficult to use.
