If you've ever watched the TdF, whether back in the 70's when I first started watching or today, you'll see some on bikes with their elbows having a large bend in them and their head extending beyond the bars so there is no way that they can't see the hub. Yet others next to them and on the same team will only have a slight bend in their arms stretching them out more and their handlebars or stem blocking their view of the hub.
So the "wisdom" from the past only applies for some. You might not be one of them if you are having issues with your bike fit.