orbitmic

I find your choice perfectly sensible. Back definitely increases likeliness of empty middle seat and of space for hand luggage, and indeed, it is no worse than elsewhere for recline or toilets proximity.

Most of my flights are connecting so I personally prefer to be at the front because those few minutes that you mention can be frustrating in a case or short connection/late arrival and also end up mattering a bit when you have to go through longish immigration.

That said, also worth noting that on long haul, disembarkation is most often from door 2 so on many aircrafts, back of the cabin in CW (and lower deck) usually means faster disembarkation than row 1.