I like the cooler rack/platform concept for the following reasons:
If you design a cooler rack/table so that it fits down against the top of the front of the engine well, it blocks any incoming "poop" water.
The cooler can be removed, and the table also used for cooking, fish cleaning, and/or whatever else you design it for.
The platform/cooler rack/table can be designed to set half way into the cockpit and halfway back into the engine well, so that the motor can still be tilted up.
This still allows getting the cooler up off the floor, which is a major floor space improver and convenience item. Your 2/3'rds of a cockpit (with the cooler on the floor) becomes a full cockpit again. You have to experience the change in foot room to fully understand this. Especially fishing and fighting fish.
When the cooler is placed on the floor, it can be used to sit on with or w/o a pad, and can be moved over to make a "step" to help get into and out of the boat.
With the cooler on the floor as a step, steping first on it and then secondly on the platform provides a stepway to the swim platform.
With the cooler on the platform and the top of the cooler padded with carpet, it becomes a handy space to set fishing items on. Designing an easily removable tray can organize this space. Many coolers have a small door on one end so that the tray can be left on the cooler top and the small door opened to get to drinks, etc.
You can put the cooler on the floor, use it as a step, stand on the platform, and cast lures or cast fly fishing equipment.
All these are very real advantages I've experience with the cooler platform set-up, and I recommend it highly!
Joe. :teeth :thup