I don't see what's the problem with BA's seat facing backwards. It is just different to what we are used to. But once I was sitting there and on the air, I totally forgot that I was facing backwards. No issue.

Saying that one has to crawl over too on BA is an exaggeration and totally unfair comparison to the AA crawl over. No crawling required on BA, just stepping over the footrest area which is narrow (12"?) and low (16"?) and you could even do it while the other pax is having dinner or with his/her tray out. On AA, you have to cross around the waist/thighs area (the widest area), it is much higher. It is almost impossible to do it without disturbing the pax unless you are a Circq du Soleil acrobat. If the trays are out, forget it! Impossible.

Anyway, IMO,
7:50 hrs on the now old NBCG seats out of ORD non stop to LHR trumps
3hrs on a recliner seat + 2hrs on a lounge + 7:25hrs on the 77W (ORD-JFK-LHR), hands down.