I've gotta say, my own reaction to the incident is that it's getting ridiculous on the airline's part to call it a "first class" when this sort of thing is even an issue.

Although I've never hit any sense that space was an issue on AA MD-80s in first, and they're only 38" pitch. Either United 757s have much deeper recline, or more likely the guy seated in back was being unreasonable.

Then again, the worst seat I've had on American bar none was the once I was in first on a Fokker 100. I'm not sure what the width on those were, but even the seats on the little Saab 340 turboprops were more comfortable and seemed wider. I don't remember for sure what the flight was, but it was short - BOS-ORD maybe?