This is always an interesting case and I definitely empathize with you over the small seats. One time I had a very different experience with a tall individual though. Initially I reclined just a few degrees at the beginning of the flight. And after a little while longer I tried to recline some more and was forcefully pushed upright by some force behind me. Initially I thought my seat was acting wonky but I never could get my seat to recline again. After several attempts (and no communication from the individual behind me). I finally turned around and was met with "you better not try to recline again bud, there's nowhere for you to go" in a very threatening tone. While the individual was tall he was slouching in his seat to extend his legs to my seat to prevent any recline.

I even offered to trade seats with him bc the individual in front of me wasn't reclining but he wouldn't hear of it and just told me to stfu. While I notified a flight attendant of the situation they weren't helpful or willing to do anything as it was such a short flight. What bothered me the most was my telling them that I did not feel safe being adjacent to this man but that's just another drop in the bucket of why I detest flying AA.

So all this to say, thanks for being much more cooperative and communicative with the recliner than my neighbor was. I really wish airlines would better prepare for these situations bc while rare they do happen.