The option is there for a reason.
Especially when he’s trying to eat
Lol, just today when I pulled my seat all the way back I was ready to turn around and give the women behind me a mishkanta over the head, I don't think 5 minutes went by on my 1hr+ flight where she didn't bump into my seat or play with the tray table, to me it sounded like someone was pounding on the back of my head, boy was it annoying,but then again this is what comes with those who decide to push back the seat all the way.
I say if the pax doesn't want you to recline all the way they can nicely approach you and ask if you can please move up a bit and that way you don't have to feel like a fool the whole flight.
In essence I would ask each time I take a flight, but on the 1% chance I'll have someone who says no I wouldn't ask.
Other times I'll sneak my seat back is when they turn there head or go to the washrooms, or fell asleep and take the bait.
Or if all those are not a factor I click the button to recline and slowly like a snail move the seat back a mashehu and then another ...until I'm all the way back.
To start of the flight I'll always lean the seat all the way back, exspecialy when the seat was not yet taken behind me.