1. 100% agree with you - I read somewhere it was due to weight reductions (come on) .. but this I can't believe it. If it is because of cost reductions, so why remove it? Furthermore, as a premium airline, I don't believe it would offset the limitation of customer experience. Plus, a footrest like this will be depreciated over 20 years so who cares
2. It was the infamous A332 and not the A350. Think Airbus would be quite happy to hear that their A350 is already flying..