[Steve Davis]

I think the main reason the capacitors were wired before the switch was to limit the stray voltage on the chassis when the radio is turned off. When the radio was made, they didn't have polarized plugs, so there was a 50/50 chance there would be line voltage on the chassis when the radio is off. With the capacitors before the switch, the chassis will only have one half line voltage. Either way the current is low and not dangerous.

Steve