Thanks for all your thoughts and sharing your experiences. Just for the record, I always put my seat back up when it's meal time. I just didn't know that her child was eating when she first got the FA to ask me, and also, it wasn't the reason when I was first asked. In any case, the child wasn't seating behind me; it was the rude lady who was right behind.

Also, for the record (some of you got it, clearly others didn't) - I was reclined only about halfway.