You are not alone in your desire for a non-top-down perspective while editing. We have some plans for a first person editing experience, but I think what you (and others) would like to see an alternative perspective when in the IDE. I don't care for the four-windows approach (never have) but something more flexible is definitely called for. I am currently exploring options, including a Picture-In-Picture solution which can help guide the vertical placement of entities.
Hogging the awesome since 1999