I did not mind a column change. I loved my Ford Zephyr mk3. But the linkage often got itself tangled up. But I was once driving a Bedford CA van with 3 speed column through Liverpool. For those who know, I was turning left at lights from Prescott road into Green lane. A modern (then), bus with door at the front, pulled up to my right as he was going straight on.
The lights turned to green, I engaged first, but the lever came off in my hand. I looked to my right to see the bus driver looking at me who was staring at the lever in disbelief. He was laughing so much he missed the lights.
Luckily I found a small stump which I could change gear with.
John