I've ended up, having tried both, with the line from the top. It doesn't seem to make much odds for small to medium size fish, but for bigger fish that are likely to take line it makes a difference to braking the drum. With line from the bottom, the spool will be pushing against your thumb as it turns, and it's much more prone to give you (or me, anyway) a juddery, jumpy drag. With line from the top, the drum is pulling away from your thumb and it feels easier to apply a smooth pressure to it.
braking big fish with the drum rotating anti-clockwise is an easier business altogether.
I've never found that but I will agree that if it's what you're used to and comfortable with then that's the way to go. IMO the main thing is having a reel that you have confidence in, a sound knowledge of your rod, reel, line setup and how it performs under stress and everything else should then be instinctive..........
Try both ways and then decide which is best for you . I like the line coming off the top which for me personally gives me less tangles around the back off the foot.
Anyone fitted a cork arbor to speed up the retrieve? I’ve just bought a Speedia with a very deep spool and that mod seems quite popular.