You must have been seated in the first four rows of "Priority Seating". Once you get to the emergency exit rows and back, the pitch is fine. I once took the second row in Y, but only because I had it all to myself and could stretch out with a couple of pillows against the wall/window and my legs across the other two seats. Hardly any leg room otherwise.

I'm on 161 in early September and again in late October, but noticed that the back cabin of Y is almost empty, while the front sections of Y are just about totally filled on both. I know it's still early to forecast a final load, but I wonder if it regularly goes off with the back section empty? [I'm in the back in September taking advantage of that $1100 HKG fare -- including a YVR stop-over -- but up front er on top in October: 58A.]