I’m 6’4” and understand when I purchase a plane ticket that I am going to be uncomfortable the ENTIRE TIME, but I do not take it out on the other people around me.
I have had people push back hard intentionally because I do on occasion bump the seat back when I try to adjust my legs or stretch for some brief relief. I don’t get ugly about it and tell them “sorry”.
Sounds like these three brats have never had their nose splattered across their cheek for being rude and disrespectfully aggressive.