[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

the new seats are thinner and the seat cushion actually slides forward slightly when the seat is reclined

The late great National Airlines (Miami) was the last airline I can remember having something like this. The recline, into the face of the person behind you, was very limited. Yet, your body still felt the sensation of a conventional recline. With the complaints about people having their laptops trashed I'm surprised more airlines don't use this. I'll assume cost is the issue--either the seats themselves, and/or the cost of re-fitting existing aircraft.

For those who feel the need to point it out: This type of seating was NOT fleet-wide with National. Their DC-10s were one exception.