Flying backwards to Hong Kong

That title probably sounds a little more interesting than it really is.  The plane itself flew normally but my seat was a rear facing seat.  I was on the upper deck of a United 747 and they now have rear facing seats to provide "the most privacy and comfort in flight".  Every other row faces the rear of the aircraft or aft if we are speaking in proper aeronautical terminology.
My seatmate was not thrilled to be facing aft and asked to be re-seated.  Unfortunately, the flight was full and nobody wanted to switch with her.  The very nice flight attendant asked everybody in a forward facing window seat to switch and everybody declined.  Seems so odd to me...it is still a seat on the flight...just faces a different way.  Why not switch?  I totally understand not wanting to change from an aisle to a window or vice versa but really...forward or backward?  To me there isn't much difference.  Plus, I think it is actually safer to be facing the rear...all military flights have the troops facing the rear...at least from what I have seen...so that must mean that they are safer.

I honestly didn't notice much of a difference.  It was a little noticeable during the ascent and then when the pilot slammed on the brakes during landing.  Otherwise, it was just like any flight.  I think riding in the passenger seat of a right-wheel drive vehicle is weirder than this.  And actually, since I was facing the rear and the galley was in the rear...it was much easier flagging down flight attendants when I wanted something.

I'm now sitting at the airport in Hong Kong killing a few hours before the final leg of my journey.  It is really cloudy and foggy here today so all I can see is part of a mountain and the airplanes moving around on the tarmac.  I'll have to come back in order to say I've officially been to Hong Kong...passing through the airport doesn't count...you have to actually set foot on the soil.