My sincerest thanks to the very kind FTers who’ve taken the time to respond and offer advice. Seeing the enthusiasm for 23A/K among the experienced travellers is making reconsider.

My main concern with sitting so far back is not getting my first meal choice - is this common when seated towards rear of the cabin with EK?

The other issues of increased traffic etc are probably balanced by the improved privacy and more ‘intimate’ (oo-err missus) cabin.

Struggling to decide - talk about first-world problems!