Pretty sure only the riser cables are available that are meant for vertically mounting the cards.

For multi-slot cards, I usually use a long screwdriver or other thing to push the release lever.

It had been the same ever since AGP and thus PCIe have been around.

Also, if you raise the card, how are you going to secure it to the case. Doing that will also likely block at least 1 output port as well.