Isolating the vibration from the engine is not only good for "the feel" but also benefits the rest of the drivetrain and all the other MB bits.

Cooling ducts would make sense since the hydraulic units are pretty much trapped under that engine. Additional cooling for the brakes, while practical if you race or live at the top of Pike's Peak, is sufficiently handled by the existing airflow and wheel ventilation.

As for the gas pedal . . . I leave that to white coats in Stuttgart. You'll be happy to know that one of the safety features MB designed into the pedals, is that in a front crash, they will move upward, out of the way of your legs and knees.