USB sockets, why no tactile orientation feedback?

Scenario: You have a USB memory stick, or a mouse, or whatever. You want to plug it into a USB socket on the back of your PC/Mac case or Mac widescreen monitor. You can't actually look directly into the socket (because of the desk/wall/whatever), so you don't know which way up the socket is. You know the orientation of the connector in your hand.

How do you plug the device into the socket while being sure that the extra pressure you are exerting is to overcome a tight connection rather than damaging the socket because the plug is incorrectly oriented relative to it?

Situation 1: Horizontal socket. Common sense tells you that the top will match the USB symbol on most plugs. Common sense will mostly be right.

Situation 2: Vertical socket. This is the biggie! A lot of machines (MacMini for example) stack their USB connectors vertically to save space, but what orientation is intuitive for them? USB symbol towards the centre of the machine? Towards the left? Towards the right? Is it time to consider purchasing a dentist's mirror and a Maglight torch instead?

Firewire knew what was going on, with an obviously directional connector. I seem to remember some Mac USB plugs possessing grooves on one side also?

Anyway, we need a USB socket policy!

My suggestion. Horizontal orient to the top. Vertical orient to the left as viewed from the front of the machine, right as viewed from the back. It doesn't really matter, just stick to a convention...