I would not consider it any great loss if reclining was disabled in all seats. I'm not especially tall (6'), so it doesn't hurt my legs (usually) when the guy in front of me reclines, but it does destroy any possibility of using the tray table. No room for my netbook, can't put a book in there, can't really even have a glass of soda. Even when the seat is up, I'm uneasy using my netbook because the seat in front of me could recline suddenly, catch my screen, and break it.