A B737-700 had an authorized engineering change repair to a cracked thrust lever that allowed protruding rivets that impeded clear access to the TOGA button which may be needed during a critical moment of a missed approach.

Narrative

Right thrust lever had a 'Engineering Authorized Repair' to a crack in the thrust lever that interfered with pilot's clear and easy access to the TOGA button on that thrust lever. The Hi-Loks mounting the repair plate extended out over the TOGA button. The repair should; in my opinion; be done with flush rivets to allow unrestricted access to the TOGA button. If the engineering authorization is to be the standard then the TOGA button for that throttle should be placed on MEL. At a DH (Decision Height) of 50 FT safety is compromised if the pilot can't find the TOGA button in a standardized manner. The aircraft was accepted by the Captain after talking to Maintenance Control and shown the Engineering Authorization stating that it was within 'Compliance'. Several maintenance techs that I talked with regarding this issue all agreed that the repair should be done with flush rivets or MEL the TOGA button. The reason given that it was not done with flush rivets was 'Time'. I submit that 'Safety' should take precedence over 'Time'.