In my plant we use reverse flow to drain the outlet area when it should be washed.
We do not have threads on the shaft, but I agree with Slagathor that it makes no difference. In the same sense, the axial force in reverse flow, caused by the water flow, will act downward, like in the forward...
World's economic is getting worse from day to day, more employees find themselves without jobs.
In that situation, engineers have less force to put ultimate demands in front of their managers, and that may cause less involvement in unpleasant hazards issues.
Even goverments can be less...
If you want to compare 2 water heaters, let them work at the same time, one near the other, but not to close! so one won't be a "wind shield" to the other.
Give them clean flat surface in the front 5 Meters, to avoid non-equal wind disturbances.
Of course, no shadowing on them while...