It can be in some cars, but with sporty 6-speeds in particular it can be very difficult to tell if you're in reverse or 1st just by looking because the shift gates are so narrow. My VW is even worse, because you get it into reverse by pushing the shift knob down and then basically shifting into 1st.

Of course not knowing which gear you're in when you start the car is less a problem with a manual - interacting with the gear lever is a much more normal and automatic (irony) part of the driving experience so if you start rolling the wrong way you just pop it into a different gear and move on with your life.