But patch cords only ever flow one way?

I know but how can you tell which way when you have possibly hundreds of them?

Especially when some objects are at the bottom of the screen and actually feed the top of the screen.

it's difficult to read.

To be honest that sounds more like a design problem to me. I mean; there's a reason why objects such as "patcher" exist.

I don't think that hiding stuff within patchers removes the need for cables running bottom to top because of the hardwired flow design (right to left etc) of max.

and since it should be easy to add this option all those that didn't like them could just carry in as before.