I have to tell you that I like the back trunk better than the current front, I think that for me that is what is missing on the current front side is a bit of rugged interest.
I very much agree with you that the front is missing interest, and you are not the first person to say that they liked the back better.
However, it is hard to see the "stance" of the tree in the pictures. If the back were used, it would be leaning very much away from the viewer in a way that could not easily be corrected without heavy bending.
Deadwood interest will come in the front, it will just take a couple of years.
Cheers