I also feel a bit uneasy when I have no indication on what the aircraft is doing (broken IFE and not near a window).

Maybe I have been lucky to be with people who like sun/scenery, but on all my AA, BA, and LAN flights, I have seen at least every 2nd-3rd window open, no matter the time of day/night. Trying to sleep on EWR-BOM with the window shades up/open is an entirely different story...

Once, I have seen a person wear sunglasses because of the glare, so that works