That is a very good point Arnold.
For my tapping attachment for the lathe, for small taps I use a knurled holder, but for my larger tap holder, up to 16mm, I have made the handle just 3" long from the centre point of the tool. This is so that if the thread is going to attempt to break the tap, I can't hold the tapholder handle any longer because of the short moment forces, and it is snatched out of my hand (safely may I add).
This is of course for power tapping, not hand tapping as this is. But handle length is critical for both, to prevent tap breakage because of lack of 'feel'.
Bogs