Adrianmsmith
It’s the same clearance on LM commercial machines. I guess it’s because the large majority of users/customers will be extracting into a demitasse, espresso cup or flat white cup. Fairly common on most machines. All of the above fit comfortably under a spouted PF with scales.
It also keeps the overall height low which is probably desirable in a cafe because the user wants to be able to see over the top of it.
Remember the gargantuan scale of those levers aren’t representative of most home/prosumer machines!
Giving the group too much clearance is also undesirable since if you are using a demitasse, and dropping espresso from too great a height, you’re going to end up with as much in the drip tray and over the back panel as you are in the cup.
The Micra is certainly smaller than I’d want to use.