It certainly is illegal, but everywhere else I've ever lived, 99% of stop signs would simply be a 'give way' or 'yield'. That's typically what people instinctively do at those signs. Give way/yield junctions are absolutely safe if used properly and in the right circumstances.

Your anecdotal evidence also contradicts mine, so we have a stalemate here.

I don't really understand the A-pillar comment either. Not going to apply this broadly because you're just a single person, but navigating your blind spots is something you learn to do in other countries at least.