The reason they designed it that way is so when you go to lock up your car normally about the time you relize that your keys are still in the car is about the time the door slams shut. SO if you have to pull up on the handle it gives you that split second of time to "let go" of the handle and not lock your keys in the car. On the later nissans with there is a key switch in the ignition cyl that wont let the doors lock if your keys are in the ingntion hence the delete of holding hte handle up. Learned that from my instructor at nissan training:)
