Not sure I follow your argument -- you could have flown business class as well and reclined all you want. At least you were able to recline the seat at first (physically speaking). Other than on AA, if the person in front of me begins to recline, the process ends immediately due to the length of my legs; I'm tall but not that tall and I don't slump in my seat. The fact is that most airlines choose to place the seats very close together, and I'm not going sit in the brace position, or twist my legs sideways, just so the person in front of me can recline.

Reclining my seat doesn't help the person in front of me recline (besides the fact that it starts the domino effect). Reclining causes the top part of the seat to move back, but the bottom cushion, where my legs are located, is in the same place. My head is a few inches further back, but that's it. It's not all that more comfortable.