I know I'm a bit late with this post, but for you Strat players out there who are comfortable with wiring and soldering, etc. you can have a pickguard custom made WITHOUT a hole for the middle pickup. You can also get it made without the hole for the top volume knob if that gets in your way as well. You could then use a simple 2 pickup, volume and tone pot configuration like a Tele uses, and likewise with the switch wiring.

I've been using a Tele for a few years now mainly because of the middle pickup and volume knob thing. Even with the Telecaster, sometimes the pickup switch gets in my way. But as soon as I can afford it, I'm going to build myself a hardtail Strat the way I would like it.