I'll put my limited experience out there. I've been doing the backwards thing since I got the Outfitter. I had limited luck getting in with my old Malibu. I saw a video of some guy coming in backwards through some serious waves and a dim bulb went off. Here is the only flip in reverse....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvaB...6ndLRGmXXpx5CQ
Since then, I learned that you give a couple peddles/paddles through said waves and you are golden. You spend some time in the surf zone sometimes, but I think you have better control. This has worked flawlessly at LJ and San O.