Michael -
Two comments for you -
First, I moved the fuse box for my ERA from the "standard" position, which was up high on the firewall in the engine compartment, to the backside of the firewall in the interior. In the five years the car has been running, I have not once had to check a fuse (though, as you pointed out, I WOULD nearly have to "stand on my head" to do it).
Second, you might look at some later model cars - many of them have a fuse box, or sometimes a "secondary" fuse box, out under the hood. They typically have plastic covers over then to protect from weather. You might have to look at "furrin' cars" to find a smaller one that that doesn't have 250 slots for electrical accessories.
regards,
Jeff