I see what your saying about the plate, if he used a bigger one, he wouldn't have had to put that much of an angle on the screws. Your disc spaces or old disc spaces are really good size at those levels, maybe he ordered too small of a plate.
If you look at X-rays of neck and back surgeries particular with rods and screws, its very common for them to be at an angle. I remember some of the ones in my back being that way. I think its more important that they grip. As far as the heads sticking out, there going to stick out because they at such a great angle.
More importantly, are you feeling these screws or having trouble swallowing, some people say the plates have caused them pain. Fortunately, I haven't had any trouble with mine. How's your pain level at 3 months out?
Copy your post over to the Neurosurgery Expert Forum. Questions are answered on there by a Surgeon, he could give you some good insight on this.
Here's the link:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Neurosurgery/show/331