A few things to add...

First, the solution to the reclining problem is certainly not solved by moving to first class. While there is more seat pitch there, most offer a significant increase in recline that offsets the seat pitch gain. On many US flights (domestic) this is often the case.

Second, rather than knee the seat in front of you, you should get an 18-month old (mine for instance) who believes it a challenge when the person in front of her leans the seat back. It's really simple...lean back, kick...no lean back, no reach and thus no kick.

About a month ago, the only person within 6 rows of us who was reclining was in front of my daughter (he was in the bulkhead row). Despite the constant kicking, he insisted on leaning the seat back...I hope that he feels he "won" the battle.

The truth IMHO is that we need to be a bit more accomodating of our situations and a lot less entitled to our likes and dislikes. These conflicts, as many of you know, is not reserved for cattle class as: the entitled, the loud talker, the snorer, the seat grabber, the bathroom occupier, the flight attendant abuser, the laptop banger, the shade opener during the movie guy, and the drinker (not mutually exclusive of the loud talker) are in every class of the plane.

There is a simple need to migrate to the middle when we travel with so many people together.

Oh, I forgot to mention that as someone who has travelled in a private jet (less than 5 times) while it is always better than commercial...there is still preferred seating.