Illustrator only displays controls for repeat objects when it’s enough screen space, it seems. But when we are zoomed out or the object is just small, and there is still enough space to put these in, we get nothing.

Even when there’s almost no space to fit controls at the box, some other apps draw them next to it, with connectors.

Meanwhile Ai still chokes us with corner widgets on zoomed out objects, and there is now way to hide them. Here is a request: http://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/333657/suggestions/43661631

Please make a way for us to control these and other similar controls and choose when there is a limit on our own, somewhere in Preferences.