Maybe I just have big hands or I'm uncoordinated, but I've never been able to use one of these things without touching the inside at the top at least once. The last thing I want to be doing is touching a probably filthy surface after washing my hands.

Yeah me too.

Then I learned how to use one.

(Which of course is a UX issue, they shouldn't need training)

There's a tiny sticker on the dryer that shows how to move your hands up and down through the curtain of air. I think over time, the sticker just fades away or something. But with all things UX, once you know exactly how to use, you never look at the 'instructions' again

I think that's often down to the technique you use to dry your hands. Used properly, it can do a decent job.

That said, I think the original design wasn't too amazing, though it did look cooler than most of the existing dryers at the time. I vastly prefer the newer design (https://www.prodryers.com/Dyson-Airblade-V-Hand-Dryer-HU02-S...) which I think does a better job. And it's certainly harder to touch the sides which is a problem a lot of people have with the original.