In a crabbed landing, if someone doesn't decrab properly, a gear that lands front wheels first is going to put huge twisting strain on the gear leg and hinge bearings, because it will try to steer away from the runway centre line, and the forward motion will try to twist the gear round.
If the gear lands trailing wheels first, this strain will be much less, since the aircraft wheels will simply be pulled into line to follow the direction of travel as the aircraft follows the centreline.
Imagine pushing a wheelbarrow in front of you that is not straight, and the force required to keep it going in a line not along its axis, and then imagine a similar scenario but pulling an offset wheelbarrow behind you.
I have only flown types that land trailing wheels first, (apart from the SIM), and they are very smooth if you get it right.
As to why some tilt one way and others the other, perhaps it has something to do with minimising aquaplaning or something?