I took an Airbus A310 owned by EVA from Bangkok to Taipae recently and had one of the most cramped rides since I was in the service! I am only 5'8" but almost ate the seat back in front of me. The row I was in was against a divider wal and the seats did not recline although the one in front of us did. Also, the seat bottom ended about half way between the back of my buttocks and the inside of my knee. The gadgetry of their vidio, while impressive, did not make up for the discomfort of their seats. The attendents were hostile as well. I assume that was because they fielded many complaints.
Well for that you can't really blame Airbus. The airlines are the ones who decide the cabin layout (seat pitch, width, etc), not the manufacturer. What probably happened was you got stuck on an aircraft that was configured for high density, short haul. A Boeing 747SR/747-400D would be just as cramped.