Rear facing seats would not have saved many lives. In a high energy impact accident the seats would have broken away from the rails (they're only "9g" seats after all) and instead of being smashed head first into the seat in front, passengers would have had the seat behind smash into their face instead. Either way, all the seats end up in a pile of assorted bits of shredded aluminium alloy and smouldering upholstery. Surviving an accident is a matter of luck, whichever way you're facing. Smoke hoods under the seat would be a far better safety enhancement, but no-one has ever fitted them so far.