> But for just about every other reason, it is impractical.

Personally find backing in much easier that the opposite. You have far more control and manoeuvrability at low speeds when your turning wheels are at the “back” of a vehicle rather than the front. It takes very little time to get used to using mirrors etc when reversing, and then becomes trivial to put cars into all manner of awkward spots that simply impossible to get into when driving forwards.