Knife sharpener recommendations please

My mother has a handheld knife sharpener which is essentially two steels that cross over to create a V joint, held in a plastic palm holder. It's small, fits in her cutlery drawer and she's never used anything else.

I have never been particularly keen on it, as you sharpen towards you and your arm holds the steel, so the likelihood of you running the blade down your knuckle/arm seems quite high to me. I think they should all be made to work away from you not towards you, as we rarely follow instruction manuals!!